Haaland takes big step toward Premier League record with 31st and 32nd goals

He played only 45 minutes, but that was more than enough for Erling Haaland to score twice. The Norwegian goal scorer led Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Leicester City.

In doing so, City not only kept its title hopes alive, as the only rival to leaders Arsenal. But Haaland, in his debut season in England, is also well on his way to breaking records. His hits against Leicester – the surprising 2016 champions who must seriously fear relegation – were already the 31st and 32nd of the season. Only Andy Cole and Alan Shearer ever scored more often in a single season.

That Haaland will shoot the record of Cole and Shearer out of the books with his insatiable scoring drive, no one in England doubts that. There are still eight games to play this season.

City experienced a trouble-free evening against weak Leicester. After only five minutes, John Stones opened the scoring with a fine volley. Then the word was Haaland’s.

The 22-year-old striker first exploited a penalty kick, awarded for a handball after VAR intervention. And already in the 25th minute he made it 3-0, after a beautiful pass from Kevin De Bruyne.

After halftime, with next Wednesday’s Champions Legaue match against Bayern Munich in mind, City no longer exerted excessive effort. There were plenty of substitutions and Dutch national Nathan Aké even stayed on the bench for the entire match. Kelechi Iheanacho scored the extra goal for Leicester from a corner kick.

Without playing, coach Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United did good business in the battle for Champions League participation. Competitors Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur went down.

Newcastle put third place on the line by losing 3-0 to Aston Villa. Tottenham was beaten 2-3 at home by Bournemouth. Arnaut Danjuma made it 2-2 against his old club with his first league goal for the Spurs shortly before time.

United will visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday. For leaders Arsenal, an away game at West Ham United is scheduled.

Frank Lampard also lost his third game as Chelsea’s interim manager. At Stamford Bridge, his team was played away by Brighton. The 1-2 defeat for the Londoners was mild considering the game. Brighton made no fewer than 26 goal attempts, compared to only eight for Chelsea.

The winning goal was scored by Julio Enciso. The Paraguayan pegged the ball into the cross from distance. Enciso was substituted for Joël Veltman, Jan-Paul van Hecke was also substituted for Brighton. Hakim Ziyech joined Chelsea shortly after halftime.