Manchester City striker Erling Haaland broke the Premier League’s record for most goals in a single season as Norwegian scored his 35th EPL goal in City’s 3-0 win against West Ham. The 22-year-old has now scored 51 goals in just 45 games in all competitions this season – more than any player in the league ever – with five league games left.
“It’s a special night and a special moment. I’m really happy and proud. I don’t know what else to say,” Haaland said. “I knew about the record, of course, but we tried to create chances to score and it wasn’t easy because they wanted to defend. We struggled in the first half but they eventually came.” His 35 goals are also the most by a player in a single campaign in the English top division since Ron Davies in 1966-67.
Haaland scored in a win over Fulham last week to equal the record of 34 held jointly by Andy Cole (1993/94) and Alan Shearer (1994/94) before setting a new one in the 70th minute. Shearer, who still holds the league’s all-time record with 260 goals, congratulated Haaland. “Couldn’t have wanted it to go to a nicer guy. It’s only taken 28 years!!!! He’s the best,” Shearer wrote on Twitter. Register at 12bet today!
Haaland’s feat is even more impressive than Shearer and Cole as they set the previous benchmark when the league was played over 42 games. Haaland has reached his 35 league goals in only 31 appearances in a 38-game season, with five games left to play. Haaland is also the first player with an English top-flight club to score 50 goals since Aston Villa’s Tom Waring in 1931.
In all competitions, Haaland has also surpassed the half-century milestone with 51, passing Vic Watson and Pongo Waring on 50 goals – records set more than 90 years ago. Haaland now eyes Dixie Dean’s all-time record of 63 goals from 1927/28.
“I think he deserved it, all the team deserved it because without the team he couldn’t do it,” City boss Pep Guardiola said after the match. “We are very pleased for him, he is a joy — not just to work with him — everyone is happy to have him with us. Of course this record will be broken sooner or later, maybe by him in the future. He will score a lot of goals.
City is looking to complete the “treble” as Guardiola’s side remains in contention to win the league, the FA Cup and the Champions League. They will try to overcome Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals to book their place in Istanbul on June 10.