Manchester City launched their premier league defense with a 2-0 win at West Ham, with Erling Haaland scoring twice, while Manchester United were defeated 2-1 by Brighton in Erik ten Hag’s first game in charge on Sunday.
Haaland lived up to the anticipation since joining the champions from Borussia Dortmund, giving them a superb start to the season in the sweltering heat of East London.
Haaland had squandered chances in City’s Community Shield loss to Liverpool, but Guardiola’s prediction that goals would eventually flow proved right.
After being hauled down by Alphonse Areola, Haaland took responsibility from the penalty spot to start his Premier League account.
West Ham came out stronger in the second half, but it just served to strengthen City’s new weapon, as Kevin De Bruyne broke open their defense with one pass on the counter-attack, allowing Haaland to race clear on goal and slot low past Areola.
In contrast to the foregoing, Man United’s problems as a club continued with a surprise defeat in Ten Hag’s first competitive game in charge.
Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench for the Red Devils due to a lack of pre-season training, with the Portuguese apparently keen on leaving Old Trafford to participate in the Champions League this season.
Pascal Gross sneaked in unnoticed at the back post twice in nine minutes to slot into an unguarded net before half time.
It took a Brighton error for Ten Hag’s men to score, as Robert Sanchez punched the ball into his own net off the unfortunate Alexis Mac Allister.
Ronaldo received a resounding ovation from an otherwise unhappy crowd, but he never got a good sight of goal to deny Brighton their first ever win at Old Trafford.