Haaland breaks Premier League record, Man City regain top spot football news

The marauding Norwegian brought an end to some stubborn West Ham resistance when he drilled a delicate chip into the net after 70 minutes, making him the highest scorer in a single Premier League season.

He took his tally to 51 in all competitions for City – roughly one for every million pounds City paid Borussia Dortmund for his signing.

City manager Pep Guardiola said, “Unbelievable. He is only 22 and he still has five games left.” “We expected him to score but to break Cole and Shearer’s records…he’s special.”

Treble-chasing City, who started the night in second place following Arsenal’s defeat of Chelsea on Tuesday, were twice denied the woodwork as they were frustrated by relegation-threatened West Ham in the first half.

But Nathan Ake made the breakthrough with a header from a free kick five minutes after the interval.

Haaland then eased the tension around the Etihad Stadium as he proceeded to beat Lukasz Fabianski on a Jack Grealish through ball and go past the 34-goal mark he shared with Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. Granted, with five games still to be played.

Substitute Phil Foden then made it 3–0 in the 85th minute with a powerful volley.

Chasing a fifth title in six seasons under Pep Guardiola, City have 79 points from 33 games, 78 points ahead of Arsenal, who have played a game more. The four will go clear if they beat Leeds United at home on Saturday.

West Ham are in trouble in 15th place, four points above the relegation zone.

David Moyes’ side would have expected a siege and they did not disappoint as they spent almost the entire first half deep in their own half repulsing wave after wave of attacks on the city.

City went further ahead with Julian Alvarez and Riyad Mahrez making regular early saves by Fabianski and Haaland heading a Grealish cross perfectly over the bar.

West Ham, hampered by the absence of midfielders Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, defended valiantly with the giant Angelo Ogbonna turning away cross after cross.

Arsenal fans may have started to believe that the football gods were smiling down on them when Grealish’s snap shot hit the outside upright and a few minutes later Rodri’s directed shot hit the post and the face of the goal. But it spread in agony.

Guardiola was scratching his bald head as City failed to convert 80% of their possession into a goal and the hosts had a scare when Jarrod Bowen raced up the area and found Ederson after a rare West Ham forward foray. Forced to save fast.

old routine

West Ham finally broke through five minutes after the interval and it was a goal that must have impressed Moyes.

Having resisted so well, they were undone by a simple old routine – a Mahrez free kick was curled towards the far post and Dutch defender AK Fabianski rose unchallenged to pass.

West Ham still looked capable of adding a twist to the titular script until Grealish released Haaland for his milestone moment.

Foden then put the icing on his side’s ninth consecutive league win with his 1,000th goal under Guardiola’s City reign.

But the night belonged to Haaland who was given a guard of honor as he walked off to ear-ringing cheers from the City fans and Dixie Dean’s record of 63 goals in a season in all competitions for Everton in 1927–28 was definitely within sight.

Also with five league games left, City are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and the FA Cup final.