Another game, another milestone for Erling Haaland, who just keeps getting better.

The Norwegian striker marked his 100th appearance for Manchester City with his 91st goal, helping the Premier League champions to their opening win at Chelsea.

With such an incredible record, it’s no wonder his manager Pep Guardiola paid him the ultimate compliment.

“These are the numbers of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said. “They have controlled absolutely everything for the last decade and the last 15 years. In terms of numbers, that is that level.”

“I don’t know how he does it, but to score 91 goals in 100 games in this Premier League in this country is incredible.”

Haaland – the best statistics

Haaland’s numbers since moving from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City in the summer of 2022 are staggering:

• Haaland has scored 64 goals in 67 Premier League appearances. No player has scored more goals since his Premier League debut. The next most goals in that time are scored by Mohamed Salah with 38 in 71 games.

• Haaland has the best minutes per goal ratio in Premier League history (minimum 20 goals), scoring a goal every 85 minutes. Sergio Aguero has the next best record with a goal every 108 minutes.

• In his first season at City, Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 games in all competitions, a record for a Manchester City player.

• With his 36 league goals in his first season, Haaland surpassed the long-standing joint records held by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole, who scored 34 goals each in the first three Premier League seasons – when the teams played 42 games.

• Haaland needed just 48 games to score 50 Premier League goals, 17 games fewer than the previous record holder Cole.

• This season, Haaland could win his third Premier League Golden Boot in a row. Thierry Henry was the last player to win the Golden Boot three times in a row in 2004.

“He is obsessed with scoring goals”

Speaking as a pundit for Sky Sports, former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge described Haaland’s goalscoring rate as “ridiculous”.

“He’s obsessed with scoring goals,” he said. “You can see he has it in him, he wants to be more than just a goalscorer.”

“When you play against Haaland, there is so much in his game that we don’t see. 91 goals, that’s unbelievable, ridiculous.”

Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp said Haaland had “made strikers fashionable again”.

He said: “Every child who sees this wants to be a striker.”

“Many managers are like sheep. They see the success of Manchester City and everyone wants a number nine.”

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said: “He has to adapt his game because Manchester City always have the ball.

“He has to adapt his game in the box and he deserves credit for that. He was constantly making those runs to create space.”

Can Haaland get even better?

Haaland demonstrated his ruthless efficiency against Chelsea, scoring with one of just five touches in the first half.

But despite his impressive goal tally, the 24-year-old wants to aim for even greater heights.

“I want to help the team, make sure the team works and puts the other players in better positions,” he told Sky Sports.

“To get an extra metre for Bernardo Silva, number 10, if I can pull the centre-backs apart to get an extra metre, I will do it. It’s hard, but yes.

“I want to be more involved, that’s what Pep (Guardiola) wants. But do I really need to be more involved in games like this? That’s the million dollar question. I want to provide more assists and become a better player.”

Haaland has the last laugh against Cucurella

Sunday’s victory at Stamford Bridge will be even sweeter for Haaland after comments made by Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella in the summer.

The Spanish full-back was caught on video singing “Haaland, you better shake because Cucurella is coming” while celebrating his country’s triumph at the 2024 European Championship.

It took just 18 minutes for Haaland to react, shaking off Cucurella’s attention and lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for the first goal.

And to make matters worse for Cucurella, he limped off the pitch in the second half due to injury.