ERLING HAALAND IS DESTROYING THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Premier League / Soccer

Written by Aaron Cantin

Most of the time, records are broken by small margins, shaved down over years into a new benchmark somewhat similar to the previous one. But this is not the case for records belonging to Erling Haaland who has spent this season obliterating them beyond any recognizable shape.

Source (Background Photo): Reuters | Financial World

By scoring during Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Southampton last weekend, Haaland shattered yet another record, becoming the fastest player to score 15 English Premier League goals. Previously former Manchester United and Newcastle United striker Andy Cole had held the record, taking 15 games to reach that benchmark. Haaland needed just nine. With these 15 goals, Haaland has already equaled City’s top league scorer – Kevin de Bruyne – from its 2021/22 title winning season, while he has now scored 20 goals in 13 games for City across all competitions since joining from Borussia Dortmund over the summer. The reality is Haaland is not only on his way to becoming one of the best and most impactful signings of the season, but also of all time.

RECORDS HAALAND HAS BROKEN

Haaland has become the first player to score in his first four away games in the Premier League, scoring at the London Stadium against West Ham, St. James’ Park against Newcastle, Villa Park against Aston Villa, and Molineux against Wolves.

The Norwegian also has a handful of Champions League records to his name. After scoring a brace against Copenhagen, his tally rose to 28 Champions League goals in 22 matches. Harry Kane previously held the not-overly-prestigious 22-game record, scoring 10 fewer - 18 in 22 games. It then comes as no surprise that Haaland also has the record for the fewest Champions League games needed to score 10, 15 and 20 goals.

He is also the only player to score more than one goal on his CL debut for three different clubs, with a double against Sevilla for Man City, a double for Dortmund against Paris Saint-Germain, and a hat-trick for Salzburg against Genk.

Haaland also broke a record that was just broken, becoming the youngest player in the Champions League to score 25 goals (22 years, 47 days). It was previously held by Kylian Mbappe (22 years, 80 days), who took it off Lionel Messi (22 years, 286 days).

RECORDS HAALAND CAN SET HIS SIGHTS ON THIS SEASON

Haaland is likely looking at breaking the record for most goals in a Premier League season. Andy Cole and Alan Shearer both scored 34 goals (Cole in 1993/94 and Shearer in 1994/95) in a 42-game season. Mohamed Salah scored 32 in the league’s current format of 38 games, doing so in his debut season for Liverpool in 2017/18. It would be unlikely, but if Haaland continues to score at his current rate, he would finish with a ridiculous haul of over 60 league goals. This would break the record for most goals in a league season in the top-five European leagues, currently held by Messi, who netted 50 goals in La Liga’s 2011/12 season.

The record for the most goals in a Champions League campaign is Cristiano Ronaldo’s, who scored 17 goals in 11 games in 2013/14. Haaland would likely need to lead City to at least the semi-finals and score multiple goals in every round to get close to that record. But the fact that we’re mentioning Haaland amongst some of the greats of the game is a testament to how remarkable he’s played the past few years.