Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City beat Bournemouth 3-1 to finish second in the Premier League on Sunday.
Haaland scored Tyler Adams’ equalizer before Nico O’Reilly’s first goal of the season ensured City stayed six points behind Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola may want others to shoulder some of the burden of City’s goalscoring, but he does not want Haaland to slow down and enjoy watching the Norwegian striker take his tally to 13 Premier League goals in 10 games this season.
Both of his goals were set up by Rayan Sharqi, his first Premier League assist as he made just his second league start for City after missing the better part of two months with a thigh injury.
Bournemouth, who did not pick up a point at the Etihad Stadium, lost in the league for the first time since the opening day of the season but finished the weekend in fourth place.
The visitors put the ball into City’s net in the first minute but Elie Cropi was comfortably offside when he turned in David Brooks’ low cross from close range.
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The visitors looked to destabilize City, but they played a dangerous game as they used a high line, and were punished in the 17th minute.
Nico Gonzalez, who was once again excellent in City’s midfield, played a neat pass out of defense that Oriental headed into the path of Haaland, who had half the pitch to run to before slotting the ball under Djordje Petrovic.
City seemed to be in control, but eight minutes later Bournemouth equalised.
Gianluigi Donnarumma felt he was fouled by Brooks as he reached for a corner, but the ball fell for Adams to slot home to City’s fury – with Donnarumma booked for his reaction after VAR Paul Tierney confirmed Anthony Taylor’s view that there was little contact.
The union was angry. Shirkey blocked a shot before City claimed a penalty as Alex Jimenez blocked Bernardo Silva’s cross, but the ball struck the Spaniard’s leg before his hand.
While City fans jeered referee Taylor, their side restored the lead through a combination of Shirky and Haaland again, with the Frenchman once again playing City’s spell into space before Haaland rounded Petrovic and slotted the ball into the net.
It was supposed to be three seconds later when Haaland unleashed O’Reilly but Petrovic pushed him wide before Jimenez cleared the ball off the goal line. Jeremy Doku fired Haaland once again but Petrovic blocked his shot.
This kept the door open for Bournemouth. Five minutes after the start of the second half, a quick attack ended with Karroubi’s shot into the side netting.
Three minutes later, the brilliant Frenchman had a better opportunity when the ball reached him from a penalty kick, but Donnarumma blocked it.
City needed a third goal and got it before the hour mark. Phil Foden, making his 200th league appearance for City, passed the ball to O’Reilly who took a touch to position himself before curling a low shot into the far corner of the net.
There would be no hat-trick for Haaland, who was withdrawn in the 82nd minute and his replacement Omar Marmoush fired into the side netting late on before Petrovic saved Tijani Reynders.
