Erling Haaland grabbed the headlines for Manchester City as they demolished Ipswich Town 4-1 on Saturday.
It seemed like Kieran McKenna’s side were ready to spring a surprise at the Etihad Stadium after Sammie Szmodics opened the scoring for the visitors within seven minutes of the contest.
However, Ipswich’s euphoria was shortlived as Haaland equalised from the penalty spot just five minutes later in emphatic fashion.
Two minutes minutes later, Kevin De Bruyne tapped the ball into an empty net after Savinho closed former Manchester City goalkeeper Arijanet Muric and dispossessed him.
Shortly after, De Bruyne scooped a pass into Haaland’s path — who headed the ball past an onrushing Muric before gently putting the ball into the back of the net.
However, the £51 million man’s joy in front of goal was far from finished as he saved his best strike of the day for last; lashing the ball into the bottom corner from outside the box.
In the process, Haaland scored his tenth hat-trick for Pep Guardiola’s side in all competitions.
Man City phenomenon levels Premier League legend’s feat against Ipswich Town
The 24-year-old has already scored four goals in the first two games of the 2024/2025 Premier League season.
The Norwegian international has proven to be crucial for City in both games — scoring timely goals to ensure his side have started the campaign flawlessly.
In the process, the Leeds-born striker has tumbled feats set by legends of yesteryear.
For instance, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney had scored seven hat-tricks during his time in the Premier League.
However, after his latest treble of strikes against Ipswich, Haaland has levelled Rooney’s feat despite making just 68 appearances in the league — as per BBC Match of the Day.
The Englishman, on the other hand, made 491 appearances in the English top-flight in comparison.
Erling Haaland equalling Wayne Rooney feat should start a bolder conversation
For Haaland to equal the Premier League’s third-highest ever goal-getter in Rooney’s hat-trick tally should start a bolder conversation about the former being the best natural goalscorer to have ever played on English shores.
The rate at which the former Borussia Dortmund phenomenon has scored goals in England is unprecedented.
Into his third season at Manchester City and being one of the most-discussed players in the game, defenders, teams and managers across the Premier League should have a better idea of how to tame him.
Perhaps Ipswich can be excused in this regard as they are a newly-promoted team.
But considering Haaland scored a staggering 63 goals in his first two Premier League seasons, it is clear as a day that teams cannot contain a man who was born to put the ball into the back of the net.
The two-time Premier League winner’s greatness should be acknowledged as a legendary goalscorer in the making who is making arguably the toughest job in football look far too easy in potentially the best league in the world.
