Erling Haaland Scores Twice as Manchester City Win to Go to the Summit.
Erling Haaland scored his 18th and 19th league goals of the season.
Match Summary
Pep Guardiola's side take first place in the top flight with a win.
Erling Haaland brings his total to 19 strikes in the league this campaign.
Tijjani Reijnders adds a second for City prior to the interval.
Erling Haaland scored twice to fire the reigning champions beat struggling West Ham United for a fifth consecutive top-flight triumph.
The win moved them top of the table, a single point ahead of Arsenal, a side that have a chance to retake top spot later on Saturday.
West Ham, managed by Nuno, were desperate for a positive start however conceded early inside five minutes when Haaland tucked home at the second attempt.
West Ham's defense was breached all too easily and Haaland somehow missed a close-range header soon after his opening goal.
Tijjani Reijnders doubled the lead shortly before the break, taking Haaland's pass before jinking forward and firing a finish into the roof of the net.
After the interval, West Ham tried to claw something back but Jarrod Bowen could only find the side netting and dragged another shot wide.
The striker's brace sealed a miserable Christmas for the visitors, who are stuck inside the bottom three.
Manchester City Analysis: Haaland and Team-Mates Looking Imperious
It marked City's seventh consecutive win in all competitions and the team are building the sort of streak that often leads to major silverware.
The Norwegian's opener and 69th-minute strike extended an astonishing campaign where he has notched 19 in the Premier League.
Once Reijnders slammed in the second, the end result was never in doubt as City stretched their remarkable unbeaten run against sides in the drop zone.
The goalkeeper denied Phil Foden and Savinho late on, but City's comfortable win means they have not lost against West Ham in their past 20 league games.
West Ham Analysis: Festive Struggles
The traveling support, all optimism of a surprise result vanished almost immediately of the start.
The team have not enjoyed a new managerial bounce, with only two victories and now winless in their past six league fixtures.
Consequently, they sit 18th in the table, three points adrift, with the deficit could grow as other teams have games in hand.
Aside from a few half-chances for Jarrod Bowen and a set-piece, they created minimal threat for the opposition goalkeeper.
In the past, West Ham have survived relegation when outside the bottom place at Christmas, providing a glimmer of hope for this season.
What's Next?
Manchester City: They have a break before returning to action with a trip to Nottingham Forest.
Nuno's team: The Hammers welcome Fulham in London on the identical date.
