‘I cannot believe that’ – Chris Sutton in disbelief at what Erling Haaland did before record-breaking moment vs Fulham
Erling Haaland left many in complete shock before the Man City striker stuck away his 100th Premier League goal.
Pep Guardiola named an unchanged team to face Fulham on Tuesday, 2 December, despite struggling to put away league strugglers Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium last time out.
Haaland did eventually break another record in the 17th minute, becoming the quickest player in the competition’s history to a century of goals, but it was his actions before that happened that baffled.
Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden added goals before the half-time break, with Emile Smith Rowe grabbing one goal back, but there was still focus on a glaring miss from City’s in-form Norwegian.
Erling Haaland misses a clear chance at Craven Cottage
Before netting the goal that saw him tick over to 100, Haaland had a simple, by his standards, chance to open the scoring, but fluffed his lines when he saw the opposition goalkeeper racing towards him.
Speaking on Sky Sports Main Event (2 December), Chris Sutton said: “I cannot believe that. It’s a wonderful pick out, a sensational first touch, and you think he’s just going to slide it into the corner.
“Fulham get lucky,” as Haaland only had Bernd Leno to beat to open the scoring after just six minutes, but saw his effort cannon off the inside of the post and away.
The majority of supporters at Craven Cottage were also stunned, almost into silence, with everyone expecting the net to bulge when the ball left the striker’s foot. But he had to wait a few more minutes.
Of course, his miss was quickly forgotten after complete pandemonium broke out in London, with a total of nine goals going in before the full-time whistle was blown.
Where do the other players rank as Erling Haaland smashes Premier League record?
It has taken Haaland just 111 games to reach a century of Premier League goals, and the word has already been spread about just how spectacular that is.
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer had held the record, needing 124 matches to reach the landmark, with Harry Kane below him on 141, and Sergio Aguero on 147.
The Norwegian star is an absolute monster, and with a duo of assists also to his name for Reijnders’ and Foden’s goals, he has proven that he is so much more than just a goalscorer.
Fans of opposition teams underestimated the striker heavily before his move to England, but those who never thought he’d make it will be regretting their words now.