Man City go top after Haaland double in 3-0 win over West Ham; Brentford win, Bournemouth draw, Brighton-Sunderland stalemate

Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League after a commanding 3-0 victory over West Ham at the Etihad, with Erling Haaland delivering a brace as Pep Guardiola’s side leapfrogged Arsenal in the title race. The champions controlled the afternoon from the outset, showing their intent to close the gap at the summit before the busy festive period.

Haaland opened the scoring after five minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the box and firing home to set City on their way. Phil Reijnders doubled the lead in the 39th minute, finishing with a composed strike after a Barça-like build-up through the middle. Haaland completed the scoring in the 69th minute, grabbing his second of the afternoon when he tucked in a low finish from the edge of the box. City’s performance suggested they will be a difficult side to dislodge as the season progresses, and the result confirmed West Ham’s growing discomfort under pressure in Nuno Espirito Santo’s terms.

The victory keeps City clear at the top, at least for now, and adds yet another blow to West Ham’s ambitions this season. Guardiola’s side moved ahead of Arsenal on the table with the emphatic scoreline, a jolt for Arteta’s men who were watching the afternoon unfold with interest as they prepared for their own fixtures later in the day. The win also carried a broader message about City’s intent to press their advantage in the title race as the calendar nears its winter lull, and it came as a reminder of the shift in the balance of power in London’s two big clubs.

Off the Etihad turf, the rest of Saturday’s 3pm Premier League fixtures provided a contrasting picture. Wolves hosted Brentford and were beaten 2-0, a result that underscored Brentford’s solid away form and left Wolves with a difficult run of results to shake off this season. Keane Lewis-Potter wrapped the win for Brentford with a late strike in the 83rd minute after a tense second half, and Caoimhin Kelleher’s late penalty save in the 89th minute preserved the visitors’ advantage. The day’s action underscored how quickly fixtures can swing in the top flight, with Brentford obtaining their second away win of the campaign.

Wolves 0-2 Brentford

In the day’s other early kick-offs, Bournemouth and Burnley drew 1-1, with an injury-time twist adding drama to the afternoon. Semenyo gave Bournemouth the lead in the 67th minute, but Burnley answered late through Armando Broja’s 90th-minute strike to secure a share of the spoils. It was a point that felt like a lifeline for Burnley, while Bournemouth’s tally extended their stretch without a win but at least avoided defeat on this occasion. The match offered a microcosm of a season in which late goals can redefine the mood around clubs fighting for momentum.

Bournemouth 1-1 Burnley

Brighton hosted Sunderland in a game described by some observers as scrappy and feel the Blues and Whites left the south coast with a goalless draw. The stalemate offered Sunderland a platform to build on their efforts in the interim, while Brighton continued to search for consistency in front of goal. The match finished 0-0, leaving both sides with a sense that more goals and sharper finishing are needed as the calendar moves into its crucial holiday window.

Brighton 0-0 Sunderland

The results from the three o’clock kickoffs left City atop the table with Arsenal’s next fixture looming, while Brentford’s improved form altered the dynamic around the chasing pack. After the final whistle at the Etihad, Manchester City reaffirmed their status as a title contender, and the day’s developments kept the title race tightly poised heading into the week’s fixtures.

As the day closed, attention began turning to Arsenal’s response in their own match as well as the schedule’s next wave of fixtures. Guardiola’s pre-match hint that Arteta must deliver when Arsenal faced Everton underlined how these results feed into a larger narrative about the edge in this season’s title chase.

The Premier League’s landscape remains unsettled, with City’s victory a clear signal that the champions intend to defend their crown with conviction. Brentford’s win, Bournemouth’s late drama, and the goalless stalemate between Brighton and Sunderland collectively illustrate the league’s unpredictability and the thin margins between triumph and frustration for clubs across the table.

The day’s narratives will feed into the week’s fixtures, and fans will be watching closely to see how Arsenal respond to City’s early-season surge. In Manchester, the mood is buoyant for now, but Guardiola will be keen to ensure that the momentum translates into continued success as the campaign advances.

With a late-season sprint in sight, the Premier League continues to deliver drama, top-flight competition, and a reminder that the title race can pivot on a single result. The afternoon’s slate demonstrated both the high end of the table and the close-knit pack battling for position as the season unfolds.