Erling Haaland shot Manchester City to an unchallenged victory in the English Premier League (click here for the table) over Nottingham Forest with another hat-trick. With his goals seven, eight and nine of the season, the former Borussia Dortmund striker was once again the match winner in the clear 6-0 (3-0) victory of the defending champions against the newly promoted side. The Norwegian international also set a league record with a total of nine goals after five matchdays.
Haaland only needed five ball contacts for his first two goals (12th/23rd minute) against the overwhelmed Premier League returnee. Shortly before the break, the 22-year-old headed the lead to make it 3-0 (38′). “Oh, Haaland keeps scoring. That’s a surprise,” tweeted former Dortmund teammate Mats Hummels with some irony. Against Crystal Palace (4: 2) Haaland needed 19 minutes for his first hat trick on the island on Saturday. After his second hat-trick, he was substituted after 69 minutes to a standing ovation.
Gary Lineker also wondered how quickly the new Premier League star could break the next record. “The way Haaland is doing, he’ll get Shearer’s record before Kane,” the former world-class striker wrote on Twitter. Alan Shearer is the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer with 260 goals. Harry Kane (Tottenham) is currently fourth as the best active forward with 187 goals. Julián Álvarez (65th/87th) and João Cancelo (50th) increased in the second round for the Cityzens around captain Ilkay Gündogan.
Liverpool turns the game against Newcastle in injury time
Liverpool FC won their game against Newcastle United with a goal in the eighth minute of added time. Jürgen Klopp’s side, who equalized the Premier League’s biggest win in a 9-0 win against AFC Bournemouth at the weekend, are now fifth in the table with eight points. Former Hoffenheim Firmino (61st) and Fabio Carvalho (90th + 8) gave Liverpool the late win. Alexander Isak (38th), under contract with BVB from 2017 to 2019, had met for Newcastle. In the closing stages, Liverpool were rewarded for their great effort.
Arsenal FC is better than the Reds and ManCity too, celebrating their fifth win in a 2-1 (1-0) win over Aston Villa and finishing first with an impeccable 15 points. Gabriel Jesus (30th), moved from Man City to London in the summer, and Gabriel Martinelli (77th) scored decisively. National player Thilo Kehrer was unlucky, the central defender scored an own goal in his new team West Ham United’s 1-1 (0-1) draw against Tottenham Hotspur (34th).