Man City’s Haaland nets twice on EPL debut, Ten Hag loses first Man United game

Erling Haaland scored twice on his Premier League debut for Manchester City against West Ham, while Manchester United’s new manager Erik ten Hag saw his side lose to Brighton 1-2

Erik ten Hag pleaded for time after starting his Manchester United reign with a disappointing loss. Erling Haaland didn’t need much time at all to show what kind of impact he will have at Manchester City.

The two biggest offseason arrivals in Manchester had starkly different starts to the Premier League season on Sunday.

Ten Hag looked grim-faced on the sideline as the Dutch coach watched United slump to a 2-1 loss to Brighton at Old Trafford, with his side being outplayed in the first half before a second-half rally came up short.

Haaland scored twice to lead Man City to a 2-0 win at West Ham, netting from the penalty spot in the first half then adding a clinical finish in the second.

Ten Hag was brought in by United to help close the gap to its crosstown rival, having finished 35 points behind champion Man City in the league last season.

If anything, the gap seems to have only grown — thanks largely to Haaland.

The Norway striker was recruited by City to provide a clear focal point to the team’s attack, with Pep Guardiola having spent much of last season playing without a recognized striker. And the towering Norway striker will clearly add yet another dimension to a team that still led the league in scoring last season with 99 goals.