Following a contentious first-half goal, Erling Haaland scores a hat-trick as Manchester City defeats Fulham 5-1

Manchester City defeated Fulham 5-1 at home on Saturday to maintain its unblemished record in the English Premier League. Erling Haaland scored a hat trick in the second half.

Haaland’s triple, which came only two days after he was awarded UEFA player of the year, assisted City in pulling away from a Fulham squad who drew at Arsenal last weekend and eliminated Tottenham from the League Cup in midweek.

Julian Alvarez gave City the lead in the first half before Tim Ream pulled Fulham level. Then, shortly before halftime, a disputed goal by the hosts changed the course of the game, leaving Fulham furious as it departed the field for the break. Manuel Akanji was in an offside position and in goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s line of sight when he leaped over the ball, but Nathan Ake’s headed goal was still allowed to stand.

After the interval, City, especially Haaland, put on a commanding performance to seal another victory for Pep Guardiola, who was unable to manage due to his back surgery recovery.

After a shaky beginning, City seized the lead just after the halfway point when Haaland pounced on a pass from Mateo Kovacic and swung the ball across the goal area for Alvarez to score.

The benefit only lasted for two minutes. Raul Jimenez of Fulham fired a goal-bound drive from a corner, and Ream was there to knock in the rebound at the far post.

After Ake firmly headed a corner kick into the bottom corner, City reclaimed the lead.

Fulham claimed that Leno was affected by Akanji’s movements, and that their objections were persistent even after a VAR review determined that the goal should stand.

After the ball was placed in the center circle for the restart, manager Marco Silva was incensed on the sidelines and the players were still debating the choice. Silva has now received his fourth yellow card of the year after referee Michael Oliver refused to back down.

Silva said, “It’s obvious it’s a terrible error. “Only people who have never played football and know nothing about football can say that player has no impact on goalkeeper’s judgment.”

Fulham seemed to be suffering as City shifted into high gear in the second half after the turbulent conclusion to the first.

After being sent in on goal by Alvarez with a fast pass, Haaland made it 3-1 just before the hour mark with a brilliant low finish. The striker then converted a penalty before completing his hat trick in stoppage time by turning home after superb work by replacement Sergio Gomez.