Erling Haaland scored three goals for the second match in a row as Manchester City’s new acquisition punished Nottingham Forest with some brutal finishing four days after his hat-trick against Crystal Palace at the weekend.
On Wednesday, Erling Haaland scored a brilliant first-half hat-trick for Manchester City, setting a new record in the process which was previously held by Mick Quinn and Sergio Aguero by scoring his 9th goal in just his 5th league match.
The Norwegian hotshot has scored six goals in his first four Premier League games, including a hat trick against Crystal Palace over the weekend that helped City come back from a goal down to win all three points.
Haaland nearly single-handedly defeated Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night after scoring three goals. He wasn’t pleased with just one hat-trick this week. The 22-year-old scored his first goal against Steve Cooper’s newly promoted team in just 12 minutes.
Haaland scored the game’s first goal with a pure poacher’s goal, holding off a defender to push the ball home beyond Dean Henderson after Phil Foden’s cross was diverted into his path.
After Henderson lost possession of the ball due to a turnover, it took just another 11 minutes for Haaland to score again. This time, he was given a straightforward tap-in after Neco Williams’ tackle on Foden moved the ball into his path.
With 38 minutes gone, Haaland had almost predictably solidified his claim for the match ball with another quick finish from close range. Once more playing a part, Foden headed Cancelo’s ball back across the goal before Stones headed it for Haaland to score.
By scoring nine goals in his first five games, Haaland set a Premier League record. According to Opta Joe, no other player has accumulated as many points in such a short period of time; the previous record was eight, shared by Sergio Aguero, a former City legend, and Mick Quinn.
At this pace, Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham, who is presently Haaland’s closest rival with five goals, might be out of the running for the Golden Boot by Christmas.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of City, downplayed the accomplishment after his hat-trick against Palace over the weekend, saying it was “nothing exceptional.” Guardiola remarked, “I’d say thanks to me for my brilliant ideas, but I’d say Erling has done this since he was born.”
“Always has done this in his life, at Salzburg, BVB (Borussia Dortmund), always scored goals. These teams who defend deep he has an incredible sense of goal. The three goals, especially the last one, the first one as well, good goals.”
Pep added: “He came for that [scoring important goals], what he has done all his life, the numbers of this guy is beyond.
“He didn’t run from the game, always is there. As a striker is incredible, he didn’t touch the ball but had a feeling the ball was there and always involved. “It was quite similar to West Ham how he use his body. He didn’t shoot, he put it soft where the keeper cannot save. Look at the numbers, strikers is numbers, you see how many games in his career how many goals is astonishing.”
Haaland (5) becomes the fastest player to score two Premier League hat tricks in fewer games than former Chelsea star Demba Ba (21).
The young striker now holds the record for the most goals after five games in the EPL history and have scored more goals than 15 Premier League teams this season.
Rumors have it that several Premier League coaches have contacted each other to find a plan to stop Erling Haaland as the youngster is taking on the EPL by storm.
