Tag: Manchester City

Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland is on course to rewrite Premier League history. According to Sky Sports’ Between the Lines analysis, Haaland’s phenomenal scoring rate could see him reach an astonishing 389 Premier League goals, eclipsing Alan Shearer’s long-standing record of 260. The Norwegian forward continued his blistering start to the 2025/26 season with a decisive strike against Brentford on Sunday, prompting Jamie Carragher to hail him as English football’s “greatest goalscorer.” “I’ve never felt better than I do now,” Haaland told Sky Sports after the match, describing himself as being in the best form of his career. Historic Scoring Pace Haaland’s numbers are staggering. He has already netted 18 goals in 11 games this season for club and country — taking his tally to 37 goals for the calendar year. With as many as 22 matches still to play before the end of December, projections show he could finish 2025 with a career-high 57 goals. In Europe, Haaland recently became the fastest player in Champions League history to reach 50 goals — achieving the feat in just 49 appearances, smashing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous record of 62. Closing In on Premier League Records Domestically, Haaland’s strike against Brentford brought him to 94 goals in 104 Premier League games, putting him on the verge of becoming the quickest player to reach 100 goals, surpassing Shearer’s 125-game record. If he maintains his current strike rate and remains at Manchester City through his contract, which runs until 2034, Haaland is projected to break Shearer’s 260-goal record by September 2030 and reach 389 Premier League goals by 2034. That would make him the league’s most prolific scorer by a wide margin — rewriting the record books before his 35th birthday. Why Haaland Is Getting Even Better Beyond raw numbers, tactical shifts under Pep Guardiola have helped unleash an even more lethal version of Haaland. This season, City have adopted a more direct and counter-attacking approach, allowing Haaland to exploit space behind defenses — an area where he thrives. According to Opta data, Haaland has already scored twice from fast breaks in the league this season — double his total for all of last season. His shot and goal-ending carry metrics have also significantly improved. Guardiola praised the striker’s evolution: “He’s in the best moment. He feels like part of the club now — like it’s his.” A More Complete Player Critics once accused Haaland of being a one-dimensional “poacher,” but the 25-year-old is proving he’s far more than just a goalscorer. Comparative heat maps show Haaland dropping deeper this season, linking play, pressing from the front, and contributing defensively. He has also become a key presence at set-pieces, leading City in first defensive contacts. “He is more involved in the game — not just finishing, but in his work ethic and pressing,” Guardiola noted. A Historic Trajectory Still only 25, with nine years remaining on his contract, Erling Haaland’s trajectory points toward a once-in-a-generation legacy. Already considered by many as the Premier League’s greatest goalscorer, Haaland’s relentless form suggests his best — and his records — are yet to come.