Manchester City break free of Fulham behind Erling Haaland hat trick

USMNT center back Tim Ream has been speaking following his goal and Fulham’s 5-1 loss (from the BBC):

“Not great. You never want to lose a game like that. We had a good first half and a very much below average second half. We didn’t show the same aggressiveness in the second half and results like that happen. They have a lot of quality all over the pitch and coming off the bench, and if you aren’t aggressive for 90 minutes plus then things can get out of hand very quickly.

On Ake’s controversial goal: “From our point of view, whenever someone is stood in front of the goal, the ball goes directly at him and he has to jump over the ball it is offside. He was offside to begin with and then when he has to jump over the ball too, it is frustrating when that doesn’t get called. ... You go in at half time with a down feeling instead of going in at 1-1 and feeling like you could get something from the game.”

Some true beauties from Erling Haaland’s post-match interview, as the Man City man loves his team’s status as treble winners (via the BBC).

On the club’s start: “Every year is like this at this club. We start a bit late and a bit sloppy because we play right until the last game because we are the best club. It is how it is. We will only get better and better from here.

On his hat trick: “I’m back. No problem for me. I am always hungry. It’s a new season and I am ready for it.”

On Pep Guardiola’s absence: “I think he misses us. We also miss him sometimes too. So we look forward to having him back.”

Erling Haaland, of course, shines with his three goals and an assist, but it was a ‘no passengers’ day for City versus Fulham.

Tim Ream had 11 recoveries, three interceptions, and three clearances to go with his goal, but even the USMNT veteran had a ‘ugh’ moment as he couldn’t divert a pass to Haaland for the Norwegian’s first goal.

Manchester City vs Fulham player ratings (Fotmob)

Sergio Gomez sends a cross from the left.

Erling Haaland has shaken his man and buries a shot to complete his hat trick.

It’s 5-1.

It’s not Matheus Nunes, but a two-time Man City Academy Player of the Year in Oscar Bobb.

Rico Lewis also enters the fray.

Not long left now. 4-1 City.

Fulham’s deployed four players since the 73rd minute: Willian, Timothy Castagne, Adama Traore, and Rodrigo Muniz.

Three have come on for City — Bernardo Silva, Kalvin Phillips, and Sergio Gomez — and we’ll wait to see whether Matheus Nunes or youngster Oscar Bobb come on for a cameo.

Still 4-1 to the host champions.

Issa Diop fouls Julian Alvarez in the box and there’s no real question here.

The controversy around Ake’s goal, perhaps, is a thing of the past now as Haaland smashes home as hard of a penalty as you’ll see.

4-1 City.

Surprise, it’s Erling Haaland.

Rodri finds Julian Alvarez, whose flicked pass can only be redirected by Tim Ream.

Haaland doesn’t waste the loose ball, taking a touch and smashing past Leno. Nothing controversial there.

3-1, City.

All the talk is going to be about Nathan Ake’s equalizer and Fulham won’t be happy at all as they’ve out-performed any expectations especially with Palhinha still traveling back from his failed transfer to Bayern Munich.

Fulham has kept 40% of the ball and produced multiple big moments. The Cottagers are winning the xG battle, a rarity for any team away to City, holding a 1.01-0.64 advantage.

Yet it’s still 2-1 to the reigning champions and City has been forced to snap into a physical contest. Pep’s men have now committed nine of the game’s 15 fouls.

Marco Silva is furious, and this time there’s real reason for it.

Nathan Ake heads toward goal and it beats Bernd Leno, but is Manuel Akanji putting off the keeper from an offside position.

Akanji is certainly offside and leaps to get out of the way of Ake’s header, not touching the ball. But he does flash his foot a little.

Leno has leapt to save it anyway and the ball doesn’t change direction. The keeper doesn’t look put off, honestly, but Akanji’s actions — however reactive — certainly don’t look innocent.

Either way, the goal is going to stand after VAR review. It’s 2-1 to City.

What do you think?

The USMNT man answers back for Fulham from extremely close range.

Raul Jimenez heads a Fulham corner on goal and Ederson does well to get low and push it away from the line.

But Fulham’s captain is always running and meets the loose ball at the back post for an equalizer from maybe three yards.

1-1!

The rulers are out but they won’t deny Man City’s opener.

Erling Haaland is just onside as he collects the ball and carries into the left side of the 18.

The Norwegian doesn’t shoot, instead finding an opener Julian Alvarez for a not-simple but straight-forward enough finish.

1-0, City.

Quite a dull opening stanza for both sides, and Fulham to its credit has kept more of the ball than you’d expect.

It’s still 55% possession to Man City, and now Fulham is forced into a change. Tom Cairney can’t continue and Luke Harris will take his place.

0-0 at the Etihad.

Willian recovers and makes the bench for Fulham, while new signing Timothy Castagne is also there.

USMNT duo Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson start for Marco Silva.

Jeremy Doku gets the start for Man City, while fellow new signing Matheus Nunes makes the bench.

Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol, and Kalvin Phillips among those on the bench.

Kevin De Bruyne’s still out for months but City’s expected goal totals have so far not suffered in his absence.

John Stones is out and another center back, Manuel Akanji, is dealing with an illness and may or may not be allowed to play versus the Cottagers.

City has taken 17, 14, and 30 shots in its three Premier League games so far. There are no signs of slowing down at the Etihad.

Fulham will not have Willian, who is still working his way back to fitness, nor will is have the suspended Calvin Bassey.

The Cottagers have added Timothy Castagne and Steven Benda in recent weeks, while former Wolves Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore are also working for Marco Silva.

Willian’s absence joins Aleksandar Mitrovic’s exit in asking a lot of Fulham’s attackers against an elite Man City defense.