Premier League 2024-25: Erling Haaland of Manchester City defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on Wednesday to get back into the top four, becoming the second player to score at least 20 goals in each of his first three Premier League seasons.
The Premier League winners from the previous season were 20 points behind the leaders after losing to Liverpool on Sunday, and Chelsea’s 4-0 victory over Southampton on Tuesday knocked them out of the top four.
The Norwegian might have increased his total as City dominated the first half, with Doku and Savinho throwing excellent chances over the crossbar and home keeper Guglielmo Vicario making fantastic stops from him.
By the half, Doku ought to have had two more assists. Guglielmo Vicario made a crucial close-range save after he first spotted Haaland in another fantastic position after the unmarked Savinho strangely turned over his seeking cross.
Tottenham came very close to winning a point when Pape Matar Sarr headed over the crossbar after Haaland’s late attempt was disallowed.
After a VAR examination in stoppage time, Haaland had a potential second goal disallowed for handball, and Pape Sarr wasted a clear opportunity to tie the score when he headed over in the 98th minute.
With 33 points, the hosts remain in 13th place in the standings, while City is now only one point behind Nottingham Forest, who they will play in their next league match.
After missing City’s losses to Real Madrid and Liverpool due to a knee injury, Haaland made a spectacular comeback to the starting lineup.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who played for Manchester United from 2001–02 to 2003–04, is the only other player to score 20 goals or more in his first three Premier League seasons.
In addition, Haaland’s goal was his 25th Premier League victory overall, more than any other player since moving to England in 2022. Raheem Sterling (28) and Sergio Aguero (48) are the only players with more winning goals for City overall in the competition.
Haaland, who now has 20 goal involvements in 19 Premier League games in the capital (18 goals, two assists), including three goals in three trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, had another successful trip to London.
