Erling Haaland has broken the single-season Premier League goalscoring record.
The Norwegian netted his 35th goal of a prolific — and unprecedented — first season in English football with his strike against West Ham United in Wednesday’s 3-0 win.
In the 70th minute of the game with City 1-0 ahead, Haaland raced through on goal from a pass from Jack Grealish and placed a delightful chip over onrushing West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
That goal moved him clear of joint-record holders Alan Shearer and Andy Cole into first place on his own with five games of the season still to play.
Next in Haaland’s sights is the record for the most goals scored in all competitions by a player in the English top flight which is currently held by Dixie Dean, who scored 63 goals for Everton in the 1927-28 season. Haaland is now on 51.
The 22-year-old’s first goals since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund came against West Ham on the opening weekend of the season before he netted the first of four league hat-tricks later that month.
He scored in seven successive games in August and September while his longest scoreless streak stands at two matches.
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Haaland after record: ‘I’m going to go and play video games’
After the game, Haaland said: “It was a nice feeling, as with every single goal I score. Especially to win the game is really important.”
But when asked if he would trade the several records he has broken this campaign for his side achieving a treble, he said: “Yeah. Everyone knows it (a treble) is possible.
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“We cannot think of the FA Cup final against Manchester United because we play against Leeds in three days. We have to think of the next game and focus because every single one of the last nine games are finals.”
“It is a special night and a special moment. It was a nice feeling. Especially to win the game. I am really happy and proud.
“It (the guard of honour after the game) was a nice feeling but I cannot keep on thinking about these records or I will go crazy in my head. I am going to go home and play video games.”
Guardiola: More to come from Haaland
Pep Guardiola said before that game that he thought the best could still be to come.
He said: “Always I’ve said with Erling, it will be tough when you look at what he has done and if he doesn’t score the goals like he’s scoring now, people will say ‘Oh, he’s in a bad situation,’ but his game can improve a lot.
“We have spoken about that, the movements; I wouldn’t say in the box but the game itself. I think he has that feeling ‘is that enough?’ I think he has the desire to get better as a player, as long as he has it he can do it. To go to work knowing you can do something better is the way.”
The City players formed a guard of honour after the game at the Etihad Stadium, enthusiastically patting Haaland on the head as he ran through in celebration.
“He deserved (the honour guard),” Guardiola said. “All the team deserved it, because without the team he couldn’t do it, but he’s a special striker.”
Manchester City return to action against Leeds United on Saturday.
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(Photo: Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)