Not surprisingly, Erling Haaland once again showcased his mind-blowing scoring prowess. His most immediate test saw them find their rhythm in a comprehensive 3-0 stroll past West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium. In winning, City returned to the summit of the Premier League table. This unexpected victory did even more to establish them as true title challengers. After his most recent performance, Haaland had an astonishing 19 goals in advance of Christmas. This singular accomplishment puts him in an elite class alongside legendary goal scorers such as Andy Cole, Kevin Phillips, and Luis Suarez.
Haaland’s contributions were pivotal throughout the match. He netted the opener after a precise cross from teammate Phil Foden, setting the tone for a dominant performance by Manchester City. He was excellent at taking advantage of scoring opportunities. Having bagged his third, he made it a comfortable day for Palace in front of a demoralised West Ham team guided by Nuno Espirito Santo.
Record Breaking Performance
Erling Haaland’s recent feat of breaking the Premier League record with 19 goals before Christmas should give you some indication of the Norwegian’s talent on the pitch. This feat marks him as one of the few players in Premier League history to reach such a milestone alongside football legends like Andy Cole, Kevin Phillips, and Luis Suarez.
Haaland doesn’t just have the astonishing goal figure to his name, though, he’s absurdly consistent. He’s scored first in a league-high ten matches this season. His intelligence in advanced areas has been immensely valuable for the offensive juggernaut that’s been Manchester City. He is excellent at using space created by his teammates including Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, and Reijnders.
Haaland’s 14 touches were the fewest of any player in the match. To that he added sizable political impact. Even more remarkably, 57% of his touches occurred within West Ham’s penalty box. A whopping 92% of those touches resulted in shots on target, leading to an expected goals (xG) value of 1.32, more than twice that of any other player on the pitch.
Team Dynamics
Fluidity in attack
Manchester City’s attacking fluidity and movement has been one of the hallmarks of their success this season. To have the capability to flourish when not receiving frequent touches on the ball is an ode to Haaland’s footballing IQ. His positioning and timing often put him in position to take advantage of defensive lapses, creating high quality scoring chances.
Perhaps one of the most successful combinations thus far has been Haaland’s partnership with Phil Foden. Foden’s ability to create space and deliver precise crosses complements Haaland’s goal-scoring instincts perfectly. That partnership was on full display in their last match, as Foden assisted Haaland for the opener.
After the match, Pep Guardiola was praiseworthy of his new star striker, especially for Haaland’s respective contributions to the team’s overall success.
“Thanks to Erling for the goals,” said Guardiola. “Defensively we are improving. But with the ball we were away; the way we attack depends on how the opponents defend and they have to be in the right positions to make our play more fluid.”
Looking Ahead
And as Manchester City looks ahead to the final stretch of their campaign, they’ll be focused on making that successful streak an indefinite run through the end of 2018. Getting those three valuable points up against West Ham is massively important to the squad. It further improves their confidence ahead of the hectic festive fixture list.
Nuno Espirito Santo expressed his concerns following the defeat, acknowledging the challenges his team faces in competing at this level.
“If they follow me we will be there, but we have to improve,” stated Espirito Santo. “I know the level in this league; I know Arsenal; I know how tough they are. It’s not enough. The spirit is there. But many, many things we must do better.”
After his stellar performance against West Ham, Haaland set a new standard, not just for himself, but for his teammates. Now they are preparing for their next round of matches. His consistent goal-scoring ability and knack for being in the right place at the right time will be essential for Manchester City’s aspirations this season.
Leave a Reply