Erling Haaland put on another finishing masterclass yesterday for Manchester City, as the Premier League champions beat West Ham United 3-1.
City moved to the top of the table after Arsenal and Brighton drew at the Emirates Stadium.
Haaland hit his 11th hat-trick for Manchester City and eighth hat-trick in the Premier League, taking him level with the great Thierry Henry.
Haaland has started the season on fire. Unlike a lot of his teammates, the star was not on international duty over the summer – and he seems to have benefitted immensely.
Haaland looks fresh, lively and ruthless, and few would bet against him sealing a third straight Golden Boot – Paul Merson believes he already has it in the bag.
Another pundit Shaka Hislop was speaking about Haaland after the day’s games yesterday, and there is just something he finds ‘beyond belief’ about the Manchester City number nine.
Shaka Hislop says ‘nobody looks as cool’ facing down a goalkeeper as Erling Haaland
Haaland has now taken his total tally of goals for Manchester City to 97 in 102 appearances for the club.
Everybody knew that the Norwegian would score a bucket-load of goals in this team, given his previous scoring records at Borussia Dortmund and Molde.
But few probably anticipated he would be scoring quite at a rate like this.
The 24-year-old is just an extraordinary goalscorer, who stands to put up numbers like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo if he can look after himself throughout his career and avoid injuries.
It was a pleasure to watch Haaland’s finishing clinic yesterday, and Hislop was blown away by his exploits. The former Premier League goalkeeper also noted how Kai Havertz had lacked that same prowess earlier in the day for Arsenal.
He said (via ESPN UK): “During the course of the games today, we saw Havertz run in behind one on one with the goalkeeper, we saw (Alexander) Sorloth run in behind one-on-one with the goalkeeper (for Atletico Madrid against Athletic Bilbao).
“You saw Haaland run in behind one-on-one, and nobody looks as cool with a defender on his back, facing down a goalkeeper as Erling Haaland. It just just beyond belief how cool, calm and composed he always seems to look.”
Haaland the world’s best
It is simply a joy to watch Erling Haaland when he gets into goalscoring positions – because nine times out of 10, he is going to put the ball in the back of the net.
The £51 million star is surely the best player in the world when it comes to those one-on-one situations with a goalkeeper.
Hislop’s comment about Havertz is interesting. Arsenal are obviously City’s main competitors in the Premier League and have been closing the gap in recent years.
Arguably, their only missing ingredient now is an elite striker like Haaland.
They have a great team, and Havertz is a great player. But the Gunners need someone more clinical up top. If they did have someone even half as ruthless as Haaland, that would bring them even closer to City.
