What Erling Haaland did after breaking Premier League record will delight Man City

Erling Haaland was locked in, eyes on the ball as it made its way towards him in the centre of the box. He swung that hammer of a left foot at it, then stopped to admire it thumping into the back of the net as Rory McIlroy would after flushing a drive.

Manchester City's No.9 turned and raised his arms to the heavens as the rain poured down at Craven Cottage, some biblical weather to match the legend stood before them. Haaland could be playing his football wherever he wants in the world - sunning himself in Spain, taking unprecedented money in Saudi - but there is something about him smashing in a record-breaking 100th Premier League goal while being pounded by rain in December that was fitting.

Haaland has loved English football since he was born in Leeds while his dad Alfie played in the top flight, and his love for City and this league saw him sign a deal that could see him here for 12 years in total. Judging by the way his teammates came to congratulate him and the away end sang his name, the feelings are mutual.

Few saw Haaland getting to 100 Premier League goals precisely because he wasn't expected to be in the league for long, but from the start he has always been prepared to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in. He has also scored at an outrageous rate from the very beginning when he bagged a brace in his opening league game at West Ham.

It was what came after the opener at Fulham that will have delighted City even more though. With the home team threatening to come back into the game, the 25-year-old produced a perfect bit of centre-forward play to win a ball, hold off his defender, and play a sumptuous through ball through for Tijjani Reijnders to add a second; he arrived at City as the best finisher in world