The Norwegian extended his remarkable run of form by opening the scoring on 58 minutes with a superb header to break Everton’s dogged resistance and so find the target for the 11th consecutive game for club and country.
And within five minutes, Haaland then struck again, firing home from Savinho’s neat assist to make it 23 goals for the season overall and 14 for City, 11 having coming in the league.
Everton proved tough to break down and made life tough in a hard-fought first half but City were not to be denied.
It was just the latest demonstration both of Haaland’s incredible predatory powers and City’s capacity for overcoming the most obdurate of opponents.
And it was enough to send City top – at least until after Arsenal’s match with Fulham later today.
The game in 250 words
It proved a frenetic, high-octane start.
Nico O’Reilly fizzed in an 11th minute 20-yard effort from the left edge of the Everton box that went just the wrong side of the far post before City then breathed a huge collective of relief on 14 minutes when Beto somehow failed to convert a golden chance from just six yards out after the dangerous Iliman Ndiaye drilled in an inviting pass across the face of goal.
The woodwork then came to Everton’s rescue midway through the first half, the crossbar preventing a header diverted by Jake O’Brien from crossing the line after Phil Foden had whipped in a pinpoint corner.
It was end-to-end stuff with Beto then ghosting onto another inviting Ndiaye ball only to shoot wide. The assistant referee’s flag went up for offside but replays suggested the striker was onside.
City were then indebted to Gianluigi Donnarumma who produced a crucial 41st minute save to deny to omnipresent Ndiaye before, at the other end, Pickford twice earned his spurs by first diving low to prevent Doku on 39 minutes and then following up with an equally fine clock to keep out Savinho’s 45th minute goal bound effort.
It needed a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock – and right on cue Haaland delivered the breakthrough on 59 minutes.
The architect was Nico O’Reilly who launched a brilliant raid down the left flank before drifting in a deft cross which was meat and drink for Haaland, the big man stooping to head home in fine style.
Within five minutes Erling was there again to double his tally and City’s lead, the striker applying a clinical first time finish to Savinho’s assist.
It was his 23rd goal of the season for club and country and 14th for City.
He had several chances to go and make it a hat-trick but for once had to be content with the brace as City swept to another crucial three points.
Teams
CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias (C), Ake, O’Reilly (Lewis 84), Nico (Kovacic 84), Reijnders (Bernardo 60), Savinho (Cherki 84), Foden, Doku (Bobb 60), Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Stones, Marmoush, Gvardiol
EVERTON XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski (C), Keane, Mykolenko, Gana (Iroegbunam 70), Garner, Alcaraz (Rohl 70), Dewsbury-Hall (McNeil 86), Ndiaye (Dibling 86), Beto (Barry 75).
Subs: Travers, King, Coleman, Aznou.
Attendance: 52,498
(Man city)
