MANCHESTER: Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League by beating West Ham 3-0, while Chelsea fought back to salvage a 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Saturday.

Arsenal can retake top spot for Christmas when they visit Everton later, but City ramped up the pressure on the Gunners with a seventh consecutive win in all competitions.

The Hammers feared a rout when Haaland smashed home after just five minutes.

Alphonse Areola saved the Norwegian's first effort before the ball broke kindly for Haaland to fire into the top corner.

Haaland turned provider for City's second just before half-time as Tijjani Reijnders scored his first goal at the Etihad.

West Ham missed a number of chances to halve the deficit early in the second period as they remain in the relegation zone.

Haaland, by contrast, was ruthless as he netted his 38th goal of the season already for club and country when the ball broke his way 21 minutes from time to move City one point ahead of Arsenal.

Chelsea remain in fourth as a second-half fightback rescued manager Enzo Maresca from more speculation over his future.

The Italian claimed after last weekend's win over Everton that he and his players had not received enough support during a difficult run of results.

Maresca was then linked with being Pep Guardiola's successor at City in recent days.

Newcastle aggrieved

Chelsea have won just once in their last five league games to see ambitions of a title challenge wilt.

But it could have been even worse for Maresca as Nick Woltemade's double put Newcastle 2-0 up in a dominant first half from the Magpies.

A brilliant Reece James free-kick brought the Blues back into the game before Joao Pedro pounced on an error from Malick Thiaw to equalise.

Newcastle felt aggrieved as two late appeals for penalties and for James to be sent off were dismissed to leave Eddie Howe's men languishing in 11th.

"My last week has not been complicated, it has been good. We beat Everton, we beat Cardiff (in the League Cup) and we drew with Newcastle away, so in terms of results, I'm happy," said Maresca.

"Again, there are things that for sure we can do better, but I think we're going in the right direction."

Articles tagged with "West Ham"

Haaland sends Man City top, Chelsea fightback frustrates Newcastle