Erling Haaland’s audacious yet sublime strike against West Ham United saw him eclipse Newcastle legend Alan Shearer’s record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League crown with the Newcastle icon responding good-naturedly to Gary Lineker’s tease in the aftermath of his Premier League goalscoring record having been broken.
Shearer unhesitatingly claimed Haaland was “the best” in response to Lineker’s gentle dig in the ribs.
The Nordic Viking scored City’s second goal in their 3-0 victory over West Ham on Wednesday to the thunderous applause of the hordes in the Etihad stadium as he officially became the highest-ever goalscorer in a single Premier League campaign. This has now seen him move ahead of both Shearer and Andrew Cole.
The goal was certainly one for the books and befitting of the new record as the Norwegian wunderkind latched onto a superb ball from Jack Grealish which he easily converted with a delightfully-sumptuous chip. And it certainly looks like there’s no stopping Haaland as he is easily on form to add considerably more goals to his count before the end of the campaign.
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker immediately took to Twitter with a tease aimed at his colleague Shearer. He wrote: “A Premier League record for @ErlingHaaland. 35 goals. That’s nuts. Thoughts are with @alanshearer at this difficult time.”
Shearer then responded to that cheeky jibe with his own take on Haaland’s goalscoring feat. The ex-striker wrote: “Couldn’t have wanted it to go to a nicer guy. It’s only taken 28 years!!!! He’s the best,” alongside a host of applause emojis.
Shearer gladly offering his congratulations to the Man City sensation for his achievement is certainly no surprise as the Newcastle legend had predicted back in March that the Norwegian lad would be claiming the record before the end of the campaign.
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video Sport, he said: “He’ll do it. I was going to actually congratulate him tonight because it’s only a matter of time before he gets it.
“I’d be the first to shake his hand, it’s going to go. I really enjoy his attitude, I love his desire and I love what he was saying about not sleeping at night when he doesn’t score goals because that’s what a goalscorer is.
“I love everything about him and as I’ve said beforehand, if you’re building the perfect centre forward he is it and I think he’s almost perfect, and he’s playing in a great team.”
Haaland will doubtless be looking to extend his record over the closing weeks of the campaign in a renewed endeavor to boost the Cityzens’ pursuit of not only another Premier League crown but also the holy grail of the treble. As for the league race, the reigning champions face Leeds, Everton, Chelsea and Brighton before the end of the campaign.
Guardiola and his boys in blue will also be taking on rivals Man United in the FA Cup final, besides having a square-up against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.
For sure Erling Haaland will be mischievously salivating quietly now as he studies the opportunities awaiting him.