MANCHESTER, England (AP) — A new-look Manchester City. Same old Erling Haaland.
The Norway striker scored his third goal of the season as City extended its 100% start by beating Coventry 1-0 to stay at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
City has spent more than $600 million revamping its squad under new manager Enzo Maresca, but Haaland remains its prize asset.
His 26th-minute header at the Etihad Stadium provided the decisive moment against newly promoted Coventry and maintained Maresca's perfect start since taking on the daunting task of following in Pep Guardiola’s footsteps.
Maresca's job will be made a lot easier if Haaland can maintain his scoring form, with the forward hitting his third goal in two games.
“It’s an important win, different from the first two," Maresca said. "I’m very happy. I know the players day-by-day, we know each other. It means we will get better and better.”
City’s lavish spending in the post-Guardiola era carried on right up until deadline day with the signings of Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye. Both started against Coventry.
“(We) started with a win, so it couldn’t get any better," Ndiaye said.
City is three points clear of defending champion Arsenal, which will play Chelsea on Sunday.
Promoted Hull is second and still unbeaten on seven points after a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.
Tottenham picked up its first point of the season with a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle remained unbeaten under new coach Matthias Jaissle thanks to a late equalizer from Jacob Ramsey in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
Crystal Palace twice came back against Fulham to eventually win 3-2 at Craven Cottage for its first points of the campaign while Brighton drew 1-1 with Leeds.
Brentford and Sunderland also drew 1-1.
Hull's unlikely start to the season carried on with a point against Aston Villa that was so nearly a third straight win.
After securing promotion to the top flight via the playoffs Hull has been the surprise package so far after stunning Manchester United in its opening game and following that with victory against Coventry.
Mohamed Belloumi was fractions away from hitting the winner against Villa, but saw his second-half curling effort come back off the bar.
Villa's struggles go on after a summer of heavy change and the loss of star players like Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez.
Unai Emery's team is yet to score this term, but at least picked up its first point after back-to-back losses.
Newcastle rallied from 2-0 down to rescue a point at St. James’ Park after Ramsey came off the bench and struck late to salvage a draw with Bournemouth.
Ramsey fired home from inside the box in the 88th to spark wild celebrations from Newcastle fans.
Bournemouth led through Marcus Tavernier’s goal in the ninth minute and went 2-0 ahead when Malick Thiaw deflected the ball into his own net in the 35th.
Harvey Barnes responded two minutes later with a brilliant solo goal by cutting in from the left and curling the ball into the top corner.
Newcastle looked to be heading for its first defeat of the season until Ramsey lashed low past Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
It was the third time this season Bournemouth squandered a lead late in games. The Cherries conceded in stoppage time against Manchester City — after allowing a late equalizer — and Everton in their opening two games of the campaign.
Big spending Tottenham got its first point of the season, but it is still without a league goal despite revamping its attack in the transfer window.
Summer signings Omar Marmoush and Savio were both blunted at the City Ground, while on-loan Mykhailo Mudryk also failed to find a breakthrough after coming on to make his debut.
“The problem is the last third, not because we have not the quality. We have great players,” said Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi. “We have to be better in the last decision, to keep calm when we are in the last third and take the best decision."
Forest thought it had found the winner through Neco Williams, but the goal was ruled out by VAR because of a handball.
It's been a difficult start for new Fulham coach Alvaro Arbeloa after three straight league losses.
The former Real Madrid coach might have thought he was set for a first win after his team led 1-0 through Josh King and then 2-1 through Cesar Palacios.
Palace had other ideas, with Tyrick Mitchell twice equalizing and Ben Chilwell scoring the winner in the 77th.
Sunderland secured a late draw at Brentford through Enzo Le Fee's penalty in the 82nd. Leeds was looking for a third straight win and led Brighton 1-0 thanks to Jayden Bogle until Luka Vuskovic leveled in the 71st.
___
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
___
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
