Erling Haaland equalled the competition’s single-season goal record and Julian Alvarez produced a stunning strike to seal Sunday’s 2-1 victory at Fulham, propelling Manchester City to the top of the Premier League.
Haaland tied the single-season Premier League record of goals scored by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer when he converted a third-minute penalty at Craven Cottage.
Both Shearer and Cole scored 34 goals for Blackburn in 1995 and Newcastle in 1994.
In just 30 appearances, Haaland has scored 34 Premier League goals, which is more than 21 top-flight teams have totaled through 30 games this season.
The Norwegian striker scored his 50th goal for City in all competitions since joining from Borussia Dortmund last year.
Fulham’s Carlos Vinicius scored an equaliser, but City moved one point ahead of Arsenal in second place thanks to Julian Alvarez’s spectacular long-range goal, his first in six games.
The treble-chasing City have won their previous eight league games and are unbeaten in their last 18 games overall. They are in first place for the first time in ten weeks.
Pep Guardiola’s scorching squad, which has a game in hand over Arsenal, must win five of their next six contests to guarantee a sixth championship in as many years.
Few would wager against them taking advantage of Arsenal’s collapse, as Haaland’s goal spree shows no signs of slowing.
On Tuesday, Arsenal, which has lost its past four games, hosts Chelsea. On Wednesday, City returns to action at home against West Ham.
Following Wednesday’s crucial 4-1 thrashing of Arsenal, Guardiola had shot down claims that the title race was over.
