The Premier League’s all-time leading scorer Alan Shearer has paid tribute to Manchester City forward Erling Haaland following his hat-trick against West Ham last weekend.
After taking home the match ball from the London Stadium, the Norwegian international has now scored 7 times in his first 3 league appearances. Writing in his official ‘Team of the Week’ column, Shearer reserved special praise for the striker.
“I am running out of words to describe this goalscoring phenomenon. In the blink of an eye, he took all hope away from West Ham by restoring their lead and then ending the contest with his hat-trick.”
Shearer also included another City player in his XI, Kevin De Bruyne. Despite not providing a goal or assist, Shearer said the 33-year-old was “unfortunate” not to get on the scoresheet.
Haaland can’t do any wrong in a City shirt
It is rather strange for a player to barely get any touches but score three goals in a game. Yet, the 24-year-old has the knack for getting involved at exactly the right moments.
Haaland waits for his opportunities and, when he gets a sight of goal, he invariably puts the ball into the back of the net.
Who else made it into Shearer’s Premier League Team of the Week?
The Newcastle legend went with an unconventional 3-4-3 formation, with Crystal Palace’s No.1 Dean Henderson in goal, and a back three of Brentford’s Nathan Collins, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne.
In midfield, Shearer chose Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch, Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook and Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard in addition to De Bruyne.
Up front, Haaland was joined by Liverpool duo Mo Salah and Luis Diaz, as the pair combined to score all three goals in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
