Haaland equals Premier League goals record as Man City close on Arsenal

Manchester City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland (C) shoots a penalty kick and scores his team second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 15, 2023. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP)

Erling Haaland equalled the Premier League record of 32 goals in a 38-game season as Manchester City outclassed Leicester 3-1 to close within three points of Arsenal at the top of the table on Saturday.

The damage was all done in the first 25 minutes as Haaland struck twice after John Stones’ fine strike had opened the scoring.

Haaland was denied the chance to move ahead of Mohamed Salah’s 32 goals for Liverpool in the 2017/18 season as he was withdrawn at half-time as Pep Guardiola looked ahead to Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Bayern Munich.

Guardiola could also afford the luxury of handing a rest to Stones, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish in the second half as City strolled to a 10th consecutive win in all competitions and remain well in the hunt for a treble despite a late wobble.

Dean Smith was taking charge of Leicester for the first time, but the true test of his ability to get the Foxes in the English top flight is still to come as the visitors chased shadows for the first hour at the Etihad.

Smith’s defensive set-up was undone within five minutes as Leicester failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Stones, who volleyed into the top corner from outside the area on his weaker left foot.

Haaland set a new record for goals scored by a Premier League player in all competitions when he netted his 45th of the season in a 3-0 trouncing of Bayern in midweek.

The Norwegian is set