Erling Haaland has scored 17 goals in 11 games across the board this season, netting 14 in eight Premier League outings alone. Only Bournemouth managed to stop the 22-year-old finding the back of the net, but no club have managed to stop him contributing a goal or assist.
Noel Gallagher believes cutting the supply to Haaland is the only way opposition clubs can keep him quiet, as he’s proving impossible to contain on all fronts. Kevin De Bruyne assisted two of Haaland’s goals in Sunday’s 6-3 win over Manchester United, so Gallagher says stopping him gives you the best chance of silencing Haaland.
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Gallagher said on talkSPORT Drive: “I don’t think you stop him, you stop De Bruyne,. You have to stop the ball getting to him. We’re watching something that’s scarcely believable. To think that he’s nine goals short of last season’s Golden Boot and there’s 30 games left, it’s a joke. You can’t see him going three games without scoring, you cannot see it.”
De Bruyne scored 19 goals with 14 assists from 45 games last season. The 31-year-old has made 11 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring one goal with 10 assists, so it’s clear there’s been a change in playing style. He’s gone from goalscorer to provider and Haaland is making the most of every chance that comes his way.
The 22-year-old has taken 33 shots in eight league games, hitting the target 20 times and scoring on 14 occasions. Only three shots came outside the box and only one of his goals was from distance, so Haaland does need a good supply to be effective.
De Bruyne has created four of Haaland’s 14 league goals this season. No PL duo have managed more, so Gallagher might be right in his theory.
In other news, Kevin De Bruyne makes a bold prediction of Phil Foden
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