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Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with hat trick match ball after the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Manchester Cit…

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Man City’s Erling Haaland did something for the first time in English football since 1994 against West Ham

Sun 1 September 2024 13:00

Srinivas Sadhanand

It’s safe to say that Manchester City number nine Erling Haaland had a field day against West Ham United.

Perhaps some would have put Haaland’s hat-trick against Ipswich Town down to not only his brilliance but also the fact that the visitors were a newly-promoted side playing at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the £375,000-a-week man put such questions to bed by dispatching a successive hat-trick against a top side like West Ham at the London Stadium.

With his latest, Haaland went level with Thierry Henry’s Premier League hat-tricks as well as Harry Kane and Michael Owen in a mere 69 games for City.

The Manchester City striker is spearheading his side’s title charge this season.

When the 24-year-old was sidelined with injury during the previous campaign, he would have taken comfort in the fact that Phil Foden and Rodri were holding the fort for Pep Guardiola’s men.

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But with the pair yet to start a game for City this season, the Norwegian is repaying the favour.

READ MORE: Who is Erling Haaland? Step into the world of Man City’s record-crushing goal machine

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland celebrates scoring his side’s first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Mancheste…

Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images

Haaland levels feat from the 1994/1995 season as Man City beat West Ham

Paul Merson backed Haaland to seal the Golden Boot just three games into the season.

Such is the confidence that the Leeds-born frontman is inspiring with his performances so far.

Jadon Sancho also hailed Haaland after his latest heroics as the star striker is playing at such a high standard that it is impossible not to appreciate for the world.

Micah Richards also hailed Haaland, claiming he is “one of the best” strikers he has ever seen.

According to Opta Joe on X, Haaland became the first player since Paul Jewell to score two hat-tricks in his side’s first three league games of the season.

1994 – Erling Haaland is the first player to score a hat-trick in two of a team’s first three league games in a season since Paul Jewell for Bradford in 1994-95. Diamond. #WHUMCI pic.twitter.com/XslGPlRI2H

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 31, 2024

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However, Jewell achieved the same feat for Bradford City at the start of the 1994/1995 campaign in League Two.

Erling Haaland looks like he will break a lot of records this season

The fact that Haaland has accomplished the same feat Paul Jewell did in a division of the Premier League’s calibre speaks volumes of the special goalscorer he is.

This season, it seems like plenty of records will tumble as the City talisman continues to leave goalkeepers with the repetitive task of picking the ball out of the net.

The two-time Premier League winner has started the campaign in frightening form and once the likes of Foden, Rodri and Gundogan start playing regularly again, he could even hit higher heights.

Haaland is accustomed to breaking records at this point and while such feats will delight him, his focus will remain on helping Manchester City retain their league trophy and winning the Champions League again.

So far, the signs look ominous for the rest of their competitors but it is key to understand that the season is still in its early days.

The Premier League’s biggest takeaway so far might be just how sharp Haaland looks.