Erling Haaland, the talented striker for Manchester City, shattered a Premier League scoring record and matched another during his team’s impressive 3-0 triumph over rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
With two goals and an assist, Haaland showcased his prowess and played a vital role in guiding his team to victory.
In the Champions League clash against Young Boys earlier in the week, Haaland netted a brace, setting the stage for his exceptional performance in the Manchester derby.
Taking charge in the 26th minute, he converted a penalty into a goal after Rasmus Hojlund’s clumsy challenge on Rodri inside the penalty area.
Haaland’s influence continued to grow as he struck again just four minutes into the second half.
Capitalizing on a brilliant team move that swept through United’s half, he headed the ball into the net from close range, strengthening City’s lead.
Demonstrating selflessness and skill, Haaland resisted the temptation to complete his hat-trick, choosing instead to set up Phil Foden for an easy tap-in, solidifying City’s dominant display on United’s home turf.
With this remarkable performance, City’s No.9 has now amassed 11 goals in just 10 Premier League games this season, placing him three goals ahead of his closest competitors, Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min.
Haaland’s overall goal tally in the English top flight has reached an astonishing 47 goals in a mere 45 games, including a record-breaking 20 goals in 23 away fixtures.
Notably, he has become the fastest player to achieve 20 away goals in Premier League history, surpassing Kevin Phillips’ previous record of 28 matches.
Furthermore, Haaland shares an esteemed position with Sergio Aguero as the Man City players with the most goals and assists in Manchester derbies.
His two goals and one assist in Sunday’s clash bring his total contributions to eight, a remarkable feat considering he has played in just three league meetings against the Red Devils.
As he climbs the ranks, Haaland trails closely behind legendary Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, who holds the record for the most Manchester derby goal contributions (nine).
He is also within striking distance of Eric Cantona (10) and Ryan Giggs (13), sitting at eight goal contributions.
Speaking about his achievements and the team’s success at Old Trafford, Haaland expressed his delight in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. He emphasized the collective effort of the team and the exhilarating nature of the game.
Regarding his penalty goal, he acknowledged the pressure but celebrated the fantastic feeling of scoring. He also highlighted the crucial saves made by Andre Onana, acknowledging the goalkeeper’s impressive performance.
Manchester City currently boasts 24 points from their first 10 Premier League matches, placing them third in the standings.
They sit eight points ahead of Manchester United, who are in eighth place, and trail Tottenham Hotspur by two points at the top of the table.
In their upcoming fixture at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola’s side will aim to close the gap and challenge for the summit as they face Bournemouth.
