When Manchester City travels to the London Stadium later today for Matchday 5 meeting against West Ham United, Erling Haaland will be feeling quite emotional. After all he will return to the place where it all started for him in the English Premier League last season.
His first 2 goals out of the 36 he scored came against David Moyes’ West Ham United at the same venue. That was indeed some way to announce yourself in the World’s toughest league. Though he will not find Kevin De Bruyne this time around but City have produced enough chances for him to score already.
The reigning champions alongside Tottenham Hotspur are the only teams to remain undefeated in Premier League this season. Ange Postecoglou’s side after playing a 2-2 draw against Brentford on match day 1, have gone on to win their following 3 fixtures by 2-0, 2-0 & 5-2.
City on the other hand have won 4 out of 4 quite convincingly even without the presence of Pep Guardiola at the touch line. Junma Lillo took over Pep’s role during a 2-1 away at Sheffield and a 5-1 hammering of Fulham at home before the International break.
When Pep arrived at the City Football academy earlier this week, he found 2 new players ready to be a part of his side. Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has already been a part of the team in both of City’s wins while Midfielder Matheus Nunes will be hoping to get into the mix later today.
So despite De Bruyne’s absence, City have enough players to create chances and serve it on the platter for Haaland. In 4 matches he has scored 6 goals already including a hat-trick in his last game. His off the ball movement, something he has been criticised for a long time, is getting better with time as well.
Sometimes, it seems so scary to think that he is building on a new season after winning his first and City’s first Treble, completed at Istanbul earlier this June. Even though he wasn’t the one to score that night but he will have much more chances than he has ever had.
The question as of now remains if Erling Haaland will score his 2nd hat-trick in a row. Time will tell.
