Erling Haaland has broken Cristiano Ronaldo’s Premier League scoring record, passing the Portuguese legend with 104 goals in the competition. The Norway striker’s 19-goal haul in 17 matches has seen Manchester City climb to first place, a point ahead of Arsenal before their upcoming match at Everton.
Haaland’s Record-Breaking Performance
On Saturday, Haaland struck twice in a 3-0 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium. He opened the scoring on the second attempt from a Phil Foden cross and, after a defensive mix-up, added a third in the 69th minute. In between, he supplied a short pass to Tijjani Reijnders, who rifled a shot into the roof of the net in the 38th minute. The Norwegian’s 104 Premier League goals put him one ahead of Ronaldo, who had scored 103 in 122 fewer games.
His tally of 38 goals in 28 games for club and country marks the most prolific season of his career. With injury permitting, the season will see him reach his first World Cup with Norway.
Liverpool’s 2-1 Victory and Isak’s Injury
Liverpool beat a nine-man Tottenham 2-1 at Anfield. The record signing Alexander Isak scored as a substitute within 11 minutes, but his left ankle was injured during the finish after a challenge from Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven. He was helped off the field. Tottenham had already been reduced to 10 men following Xavi Simons’ red card for a studs-up foul on Virgil van Dijk. Hugo Ekitike then doubled Liverpool’s lead with a header. Richarlison pulled one back for Spurs in the 83rd minute, and Cristian Romero was sent off for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate. The win moved Liverpool to fifth place.
Chelsea’s 2-2 Draw at Newcastle
Chelsea recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Newcastle. Joao Pedro’s equaliser came after a rare assist from the goalkeeper, following a long clearance by Robert Sanchez up to Pedro, who headed the ball forward and then collected it himself after Fabian Schar slipped. Pedro finished underneath Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to earn the point in the 66th minute. Reece James curled a free-kick in off the post after halftime to help Chelsea stay in fourth place. The Blues have won only one of their last five league games.
Nick Woltemade’s Roller-Coaster Week
Nick Woltemade’s week began with an own-goal that cost Newcastle a derby win at Sunderland. Six days later, he scored twice in the opening 20 minutes of a match against Chelsea. “I wanted to give a good performance today and I think I did,” Woltemade said. “I just want to say thank you to the fans for still being good with me.”
Wolverhampton’s Winless Drought
Wolverhampton Wanderers remain winless, sitting on just two points after a 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford. The loss tied Sheffield United’s 2020-21 record of 17 games without a win from the start of a Premier League season and extended a club record-setting streak of 10 consecutive league defeats. Keane Lewis-Potter scored both of Brentford’s goals in the second half.
Antoine Semenyo’s Impact for Bournemouth
Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has attracted interest from top Premier League clubs, including Manchester City and Manchester United. He curled home his team’s only goal in a 1-1 draw with Burnley, ending Bournemouth’s seven-match losing run on their return to the top flight. Armando Broja equalised for Burnley in the 90th minute.
Sunderland’s Improved Form
Sunderland, now in sixth place, improved after promotion. A 0-0 draw at Brighton left the north-east club in a comfortable position.
Upcoming Fixtures
The league will resume on Saturday with Everton facing Arsenal and Leeds playing Crystal Palace.
Key Takeaways
- Erling Haaland has become the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Liverpool’s win over Tottenham was marred by Alexander Isak’s ankle injury.
- Chelsea salvaged a draw against Newcastle, while Wolves remain winless.
The season continues to deliver drama, with top teams fighting for the title and others battling to avoid relegation.
