The Premier League has just entered its fifth week, but new records keep popping up in the world’s most glittering domestic competition. One of them is Erling Haaland’s goal record, Manchester City’s new striker from Norway. If Liverpool FC went crazy by crushing Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield in the fourth week, Man. City did not seem to want to lose. Pep Guardiola’s team just made Nottingham Forest 6 goals without reply on Thursday.
The score 6-0 in the fifth week was indeed still less than Liverpool’s record. The difference is three goals less. But a new record was inscribed by Haaland who scored a hat trick in the match at the Etihad Stadium. With the addition of three goals last night, Haaland broke the record for most goals scored in the first five Premier League weeks in Man’s history. City. So far, the striker who was brought in from Borussia Dortmund last summer has scored the same number of goals as his jersey number: 9.
Haaland has shown sharpness since the first week of the 2022/23 season. This big striker bought up two winning goals for The Citizens at home to West Han United, 7 August. Haaland’s name was not listed on the list of goalscorers when Man. City won 4-0 over Bournemouth in the second week. He was even withdrawn in the 65th minute, to be replaced by Julian Alvarez.
But after that Haaland again contributed a goal at home to Newcastle United. man. City trailed 1-3 and Haaland’s goal in the 61st minute started his team’s comeback to force a 3-3 draw. Haaland has stepped on gas pol since the fourth week. Entertaining Crystal Palace, man. City had left 0-2 until the first half ended. Then Bernardo Silva started the comeback, which Haaland then finished off with a hat trick.
Two goals against West Ham, one goal against Newcastle, then a hat trick each against Palace and Forest, Haaland has scored a total of 9 goals until the fifth week. A record both in the league and at club level. The record for the most goals scored in the previous five weeks was held by Sergio “Kun” Aguero. This Argentine striker has a record of 8 goals in the first 5 weeks of the Premier League six seasons ago.
During the sky blue uniform, this Argentine striker was a very productive contributor to goals for The Citizens. He was so productive, in one game it was not enough that he scored only one goal. For example, when Man. City won 6-1 over Newcastle in the 2015/16 season. At that time, the son-in-law of the late Diego Armando Maradona scored 5 goals within 20 minutes of playing. The Citizens’ first five goals in the match were made by him.
Not infrequently Aguero’s goals are also very crucial again decisive. Of course it’s still fresh in the memory of all Man fans. City, how valuable Aguero’s goal against Queens Park Rangers was in the last game of the 2011/12 season. The goal not only ended The Citizens’ comeback at home, after trailing 1-2 until the 90th minute, but also marked a new era for the Blue Manchester camp under the Abu Dhabi regime.
Thanks to Aguero’s goal in injury time, Man. City won the Premier League for the first time in its history. Since then, Manchester Blue has begun to be considered as a strong candidate for the championship every rolling season. If in the past they had a goal machine called Sergio Aguero, now it seems they have found a commensurate successor. Yes, in Erling bin Alfie Haaland.
It will be interesting to see if the record that Haaland has just recorded is a strong signal that this player will also follow in the footsteps of Aguero’s success? Not only a goal machine, but at the same time determining titles for Pep Guardiola’s team in the future?
Very likely. What is clear, Mohamed Salah in the Liverpool camp deserves to be worried about the performance shown by the son of Alfie Haaland. Last season he was the winner of the golden boot award, along with Son Heung-min. Not necessarily this season.
While Haaland has scored 9 goals, Salah has only collected 2 goals. The same amount as the new player Fabio Carvalho. Even lost to Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino who have scored 3 goals. Interestingly, Salah’s playing time is far more than the three compatriots. The captain of the Egyptian national team is a regular starter, while Carvalho, Luis Diaz, and Firmino are sitting on the bench more often.
When the Reds thrashed Bournemouth 9 goals without reply last week, I wondered where Salah was. Why did Salah contribute 9 goals at that time? Will this all be a sign that the top scorer title will slip away from Salah’s hands this season, moving to Haaland? Let’s just wait.
ASL
