Man City vs. West Ham: Haaland breaks long-standing goal-scoring record in the Premier League

Erling Haaland, the Norwegian-born player, has taken the football world by storm. He has been a consistent performer for his club in the Premier League.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has again put his name in the record books of the Premier League. Last night, he scored his 35th goal of the season, breaking the long-standing record of 34.

Manchester City were playing against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium. City had comfortably won the match 3-0, going to the top of the table with a game in hand. But all the attention was on one player, Erling Braunt Haaland. When the Norwegian chipped the ball over the West Ham goalkeeper, the whole stadium erupted. Haaland saw the ball go into the goal, ran towards the home crowd, and did his signature yoga meditation pose celebration. It took Haaland just 31 games to break this record, and there are still five more games left to play. This is Haaland's debut season in the Premier League after he was bought by City last year from Borussia Dortmund.

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The record was previously held jointly by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, who scored 34 goals in a single season. Shearer was playing for Blackburn in the 1994–95 season when he smashed in 34 goals, matching Cole's 34 for Newcastle in the 1993–94 season. There were 22 clubs in the top tier in both years, giving them an extra four games to play. Shearer started all 42 games in his record season, while Cole missed two.

Shearer also congratulated Haaland in a Twitter post, writing,

“Couldn’t have wanted it to go to a nicer guy. It’s only taken 28 years!!!! He’s the best,”

His 35 goals in a single campaign are the most by any player in the English top flight since Ron Davies' record of 37 goals for Southampton in 1966–1967. Dixie Dean holds the record with 60 goals in 39 games for Everton in 1927–1928.

City are now in hope of winning the treble this season, and with such performances by Haaland, it wouldn't be a far-fetched dream.