Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland broke his first Premier League record in the opening 45 minutes against Nottingham Forest by smashing the most top-flight goals in August with another hat-trick.
After winning the race for his £51million signature, City watched the former Borussia Dortmund frontman mark his debut with two goals against West Ham on the opening day. By half-time tonight, Haaland, 22, had already taken his season tally to nine from five outings. He scored three against Crystal Palace in the club’s last match.
City made two changes for this game as Ilkay Gundogan and Julian Alvarez came in for Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez with Pep Guardiola opting to rest those two players. It was, also, a good opportunity for him to take a look at Alvarez in tandem with Haaland for what was his first Premier League start.
Alvarez went close with two early half-chances from corner routines, but it was Haaland who took centre stage to break the record for most Premier League strikes in August – and he did that with his opener against promoted Forest at an appreciative Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
Haaland beat Forest captain Joe Worrall to the punch at a set-piece and followed up that left-footed strike with a right-footed effort from close range, and then a header. On all three occasions the Norway striker beat Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson – who signed Forest on loan during the summer transfer window.
Having started Wednesday night top of the goal-scoring charts this season, Haaland extended his advantage over Fulham striker Alexandar Mitrovic (five goals in five games) within 45 minutes.