adminManchester City striker Erling Haaland’s hat-trick against Manchester United was his third treble of the campaign – obliterating a long-standing Premier League record.
Erling Haaland demolished the record for Premier League hat-tricks as he netted another treble in Manchester City ’s 6-3 derby victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
The Norwegian goal scoring sensation added three more goals to his tally, taking him up to 17 in all competitions for the campaign. It was a devastating show of strength by Pep Guardiola’s side, for whom Phil Foden also grabbed a hat-trick in the landslide victory – which lost some of its gloss after a late Anthony Martial double in consolation for United.
It was another game in which Haaland showed his monstrous level and was the third time in eight Premier League matches in which the Norwegian international has netted a hat-trick. Remarkably, the previous record for a player to reach three hat-tricks in the division was 48 matches – six times as many – by Michael Owen.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is next on the list – the former Manchester United striker took 59 Premier League games to score three hat-tricks -while Fernando Torres (64 games), Andy Cole (65) and Luis Suarez (71) were next in the top rankings. Haaland had previously netted trebles against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest in the division this season.
As things stand, Haaland is averaging a goal every 47.2 minutes in the Premier League (661 minutes played) and has outscored 14 Premier League teams – including Sunday’s opponents United and Chelsea.
On Sunday, Haaland continued his pattern of relatively few touches of the ball in the game – just 35 in the derby – but still managed to fire five shots on goal, of which three were on target and each of which resulted in goals
The Norwegian striker also assisted directly for two of Foden’s goals, two of his four ‘key passes’ in the game which created two ‘big chances’, including the goals. The 22-year-old also won two of his three aerial duels in what was a complete performance.
City boss Pep Guardiola said of Haaland after the game: “The numbers speak for himself. He has done this before here. Always we try to help him in our environment. We have this incredible sense that he always looks starving and is so competitive. The numbers are scary, honestly.”
Haaland averaged more than a goal per game at Red Bull Salzburg – 29 in 27 appearances – before scoring 86 goals in 89 senior appearances for Dortmund. His average rate has increased further at City, where he is now up to 17 goals in 11 appearances. -DailyMirror.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter