Haaland Maintains Perfect Scoring Record Against Crystal Palace as City Strike Early
Across six Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace, he has found the net every time, accumulating nine goals in total.
Manchester City Striker Erling Haaland. Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Erling Haaland opened his Premier League account for the new season in familiar fashion, scoring against Crystal Palace to maintain his perfect personal record against the South London club.
The Manchester City striker found the net in the 43rd minute at Selhurst Park, rising highest in a crowded penalty area to power a header into the corner. The goal gave Enzo Maresca’s side a 1-0 lead just before half-time and continued an extraordinary run of form for the Norwegian against this particular opponent.
Haaland has now scored in all five of his visits to Selhurst Park. Across six Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace, he has found the net every time, accumulating nine goals in total. The latest strike also extended his remarkable August scoring record: he has now scored 23 Premier League goals in the month across just 16 appearances, a tally bettered only by Andrew Cole’s 25 goals in 44 August outings.
The goal carried extra interest because of Haaland’s new look. The striker debuted a significantly shorter haircut after trimming his long blonde locks during the summer break. Fans and observers noted the change before kick-off, with some joking online that the haircut had them briefly worried — until the familiar clinical finish arrived.
The match also marked an early milestone for new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca. Seeing his star forward get off the mark so quickly provided an immediate boost as the Italian begins implementing his tactical ideas at the Etihad.
City had faced a frantic start but settled once Haaland scored. Rayan Cherki then added two further goals in the 54th and 59th minutes to extend the lead, helping the visitors overcome the setback of conceding after a mistake by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
For Crystal Palace, the outcome was a familiar and painful one. Despite efforts to frustrate the champions, they were again undone by Haaland’s movement and aerial power. The Norwegian continues to look destined to challenge the Premier League’s all-time scoring records.
Haaland’s combination of physical dominance, timing and finishing remains undiminished by any change in appearance. As Manchester City begin life under Maresca, the early evidence suggests their talismanic striker is ready to lead the line with the same ruthless efficiency that has defined his career in England so far.
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