Haaland puts unconvincing Man City top of Premier League

Erling Haaland’s header kept Manchester City’s perfect Premier League start intact, but the new-look champions had to survive a nervous finish against newly promoted Coventry.

Haaland scored midway through the first half for his third goal in three games. Enzo Fernandez, who had been expected to start on the bench after his £125 million move from Chelsea, entered the lineup when Nico O’Reilly suffered an injury during the warm-up. Iliman Ndiaye also made his City debut.

Fernandez helped create the decisive goal. His pass sent Antoine Semenyo down the right, and Semenyo’s cross found Haaland at the far post. City had chances to add to its lead, including a shot from Rayan Cherki that struck the post, but it failed to turn its control into a more comfortable result.

Coventry had not scored in three straight defeats since returning to the top flight after more than two decades away. Yet Frank Lampard’s side came close early on. Donnarumma miscontrolled a backpass and cleared the ball from his own goal line, while Taiwo Awoniyi and Jack Rudoni also missed chances to put the visitors ahead.

The Italian goalkeeper later made two major saves to deny Loum Tchaouna and Ellis Simms. The result gave City three wins from three under Maresca, who took charge after the club spent £460 million in the transfer market to rebuild the squad following Pep Guardiola’s decade in charge. Coventry still offered encouragement that it can compete in the top division despite another defeat.