The Norwegian’s third was greeted with jubilation by Pep Guardiola and delirium from a home crowd watching Haaland’s City opener at the Etihad and capped off a superb campaign that began when Bernardo Silva headed in the second half to pull one back. Guardiola said: “What impressed me was Erling’s body language when we were 2-0 down – he still encourages his team-mates, he doesn’t get out of the game. How many games he has in his career and his goals – amazing.” Those three make it six in four Premier League outings. However, before City could do it, Crystal Palace had beaten Anderson for a third time – following a John Stones own goal and a Joachim Andersen header. The City keeper slotted the ball straight to Jordan Ayew after a touch by Odson Edouard and Ayew found the back of the net. While the referee, Darren England, called a foul – perhaps on a high leg by Édouard – VAR, at least, might have intervened as the goal looked legal. After three minutes, he and his players were ecstatic when Eberechi Eze whipped in a free-kick in the area that bounced over Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Stones before slotting home. overturned full-back and Haaland dived the wrong way to head home from a corner. The champions hit the gas hard. The England referee waved away a handball screamer in the Palace area, then Joao Cancelo found Riyad Mahrez, with the Algerian then nodding towards Haaland, who brought down Marc Gwehi in front of goal. The referee called a foul for that and there were boos from the home side as the Palace keeper pulled away the restart. Erling Haaland jumps for joy after scoring his hat-trick of goals and City’s fourth to make the game safe. Photo: Nick Potts/PA When his side got the next one, he struck again, making it two goals from two set-pieces by Heze: he took a corner from the right and Walker and Haaland each allowed Andersen to get free to head home. At this stage, City were toothless and cooler heads were required than what Haaland showed when Andersen started. Start your evenings with the Guardian’s view of the world of football Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Wilfried Zaha’s absence from the team sheet due to a knee problem had ruled out a repeat of his performance as Palace’s wrecking ball in last season’s 2-0 win here, when the striker scored the opener, prompting Aymeric Laporte. discarded and built the second one. Eze, however, was a sensible substitute, troubling City’s backline when Palace employed the same breakaway tactic. Going the other way, Mahrez turned with extra drive, went past Tyrick Mitchell and crossed from the right: Vicente Guaita got a glove on the ball and it bounced into the blue around him. Silva’s intervention came eight minutes into the second half. The Portuguese collected a sweeping pass from Rodri, slotted past Guéhi and the shot saw Jeffrey Schlupp turn and put City first. Pep Guardiola hugs Bernardo Silva after the player sparked Manchester City’s second half revival. Photo: Craig Brough/Reuters The home crowd had stayed on his side: here was an early reward, followed by further magic from Silva as he tangled with Eze, Guéhi and Schlupp before slotting narrowly wide. The playmaker was inevitably involved when City equalised. After another weave, Silva latched onto an overlapping De Bruyne, whose arcing ball found Julián Álvaraz – exactly as a substitute – who ran at Phil Foden. The chip that landed on Haaland’s forehead was as perfect as the finish. Foden, in one of Guardiola’s always interesting tactical moves, was now left wing-back in Cancelo’s place, with De Bruyne filling in on the right. Haaland’s second, which put City 3-2 up, capped off a pinball-like sequence that involved Silva twice and a rasping effort from Stones that allowed the lethal 22-year-old to head home. When Ilkay Gundogan pierced the Palace rearguard, Haaland pounced and slotted in for his third and a well-deserved round of applause when he was substituted near the end.
