Erling Haaland put his recent poor form and injuries behind him on Saturday to remind everyone why he is still the best centre-forward in the world.
The Norwegian put four past Wolves at home in a 5-1 win over Gary O’Neil’s side, two of which came from the penalty spot, but his fourth strike was a superb effort from just inside the area that flew past goalkeeper Jose Sa.
It came off the back of his goal against Nottingham Forest last weekend, when he was subbed on in the second half to clinch the game on his return from injury, meaning he has five goals in his last two games.
That’s more than Haaland had scored in his previous eight Premier League appearances (4), a run of form that led to Roy Keane criticising the Man City striker’s general play when he’s not firing on all cylinders in front of goal – comparing him to the standard of a League Two player.
“The levels of his general play are so poor,” Keane told Sky Sports at the end of March.
“Not just today, laying stuff off, headers, whatever it might be… in front of goal he is the best in the world but his general play for such a player is so poor.
“He has to improve that. He is almost like a League Two player. His general play has to improve but it will over the next couple of years.
“He’s a brilliant striker but he has to improve his all-round game.”
When asked about Keane’s comments, Haaland responded: “I don’t really care about that man.”
Evidently Haaland has no time for the pundit, who effectively ended the career of his father, Alf-Inge, with an horrendous tackle in 2001.
Speaking about the Premier League title race, the 23-year-old added: “We just have to win our games now, relax tonight and focus on Fulham.”
Haaland is now on 25 goals in the Premier League this season, leading the scoring charts, while he has now scored 36 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions.
Guardiola – Haaland back to business after four-goal showing vs Wolves
See Also – Remembering Roy Keane’s horror ‘tackle’ on Haaland
