He lives for the goals: Haaland back to his ruthless best

By Martin Graham

Erling Haaland once again proved why he is regarded as one of football’s most lethal forwards as Manchester City eased past Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday. After drawing a rare blank in the previous match at Aston Villa, the Norwegian striker returned to form with a clinical brace in the first half, helping City climb to second place.

Known for his extraordinary consistency, Haaland briefly showed his human side by missing opportunities for a hat trick. But his performance, marked by power and precision, was accompanied by a playful moment as he mimicked a robot dance after opening the scoring — a nod to Peter Crouch’s iconic celebration.

On social media, the 25-year-old joked, “Guess I couldn’t hide it any longer…,” while Crouch replied humorously, “I walked so they could run.” Yet, behind the light-hearted exchange, Haaland’s statistics continue to stun fans and critics alike. With 13 league goals — eight of them scored in doubles at home — and 26 overall for club and country, his record underlines an almost mechanical level of consistency.

Guardiola’s admiration and high standards

After embracing Haaland at the final whistle, manager Pep Guardiola praised his forward’s hunger and professionalism, comparing his impact to that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. “Have you seen the numbers of that guy? Of course he has,” Guardiola said. “The first goal, the way he strikes the ball — he just decides to score. He is humble, coachable, and completely focused on improving.”

The Catalan coach admitted he can be demanding with Haaland, but the striker’s attitude makes him easy to work with. “He’s down to earth and lives for goals. Without him, it would be tough, to be honest,” Guardiola added.

City’s dominance under Guardiola remains remarkable — six Premier League titles in eight seasons and a Champions League triumph in 2023. Despite a brief stumble against Aston Villa, the team continues to show its trademark control and hunger, with Haaland at the heart of their success.

Haaland’s hunger and unmatched numbers

Speaking after the win, Haaland dismissed talk of being unstoppable. “I didn’t score last game. I just try to help the team win — that’s my goal,” he told Sky Sports. “Whether it’s scoring, assisting, or winning duels, it doesn’t matter as long as we get the result.”

His output remains extraordinary. Only Les Ferdinand, with Newcastle in 1995–96, has matched Haaland’s tally of 13 goals in the first 10 Premier League matches. The Norwegian had 15 at the same stage in 2022. He also leads the league for expected goals (9.20) without including penalties and has been involved in 65% of City’s goals across domestic and European competition.

Guardiola acknowledged his squad’s reliance on their main striker but described him as a “sweet and kind” person whose attitude lifts those around him. “He will get even better,” the coach insisted. “The numbers are already extraordinary.”

Partnership with Cherki and future promise

Haaland’s connection with summer signing Rayan Cherki also stood out against Bournemouth. The French midfielder, recently back from a thigh injury, provided the assists for both goals and looks set to become a key creative partner.

“I know Erling, he knows me. It’s very simple,” Cherki said. “My job is to give him the ball, and he scores.” Their understanding offers Guardiola new attacking options, with Cherki’s vision complementing Haaland’s sharpness inside the box.

Opposition managers continue to struggle to find ways to contain the striker. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola admitted it was “almost impossible” to plan for him. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson added, “You run out of superlatives. He might not touch the ball much, but he scores an absurd amount of goals and could break every record if he stays.”

Ex-City stopper Shay Given echoed that view, saying Haaland aims to become the greatest striker in Premier League history, as well as Norway’s finest footballer. “He’s the ultimate professional, on and off the pitch,” Given concluded.