Erling Haaland delivered a stellar performance, scoring a hat-trick as Manchester City triumphed over newly-promoted Ipswich Town with a 4-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
This match marked Haaland's seventh Premier League hat-trick in just 68 games, placing him level with Wayne Rooney and above Luis Suarez in the rankings.
The game began with an unexpected twist when Sammie Szmodics gave Ipswich a dream start by netting their first top-flight goal in 22 years, just seven minutes into the match.
However, Manchester City quickly regained control. A penalty won by the lively Savinho on his home debut was converted by Haaland to equalize. Shortly after, Kevin De Bruyne capitalized on a mistake by Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric to put City ahead.
Haaland continued his dominance by scoring two more goals, one from a sumptuous De Bruyne pass and another from outside the box, sealing the victory for City. This win propelled Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table with six points from their opening two games.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City's manager, expressed his amazement at Haaland's "unbelievable numbers" following the match. The Norwegian striker's remarkable ability to find the back of the net consistently has made him a crucial asset for the team.
The match also saw the return of former captain Ilkay Gundogan, who was welcomed back warmly by the fans. Despite the early setback, City's resilience and Haaland's clinical finishing ensured they maintained their perfect start to the season.
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