Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has broken the record for goals in a Premier League season.
The Norwegian scored his 35th league goal of the campaign against West Ham to move past Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole’s previous best of 34.
Haaland had already set a record for a 38-game season, beating Mohamed Salah’s 32 goals for Liverpool in 2017-18.
“It’s a special night and a special moment. I’m really happy and proud,” Haaland told Sky Sports.
The 22-year-old has another five games to add to his tally.
Haaland’s 35th top-flight goal of the season came via a deft finish in the second half of a 3-0 win against the Hammers that sent City back to the top of the league.
He was given a guard of honour by his team-mates, boss Pep Guardiola and the club’s backroom staff after the final whistle at Etihad Stadium.
“I’ve not seen it before either,” Haaland added. “It was a nice feeling scoring that goal, it always is.
“It was painful when everyone hit me on the back in the guard of honour.”
Cole’s 34 goals for Newcastle in 1993-94 was matched by Shearer as he fired Blackburn to the title the following year but there were 22 teams in the top flight in both seasons, giving them an extra four matches to play – Shearer started all 42 in his record season, while Cole missed two in his.
Haaland, in his debut season in English football, has set the new marker in just his 31st game of the year.
His 35 goals are also the most by a player in a single campaign in the English top division since Ron Davies scored 37 for Southampton in 1966-67, while Dixie Dean boasts the record with 60 in 39 games for Everton in 1927-28. (BBC)
