MAN CITY 6, NOTTM FOREST 0
Erland Haaland continued to rewrite the record books in a remarkable start to his career at Manchester City.
The Norwegian scored back-to-back hat-trick as City hit newly promoted Nottingham Forest for six at the Etihad.
Haaland took his goal tally to a record-breaking nine goals in his first five Premier League matches to break the previous best of eight in five shared by City legend Sergio Aguero and Newcastle’s Mick Quinn.
It has also taken Haaland only five games to score two hat-trick – the previous best was Demba Ba who took 21 matches to reach the mark.
He was only the seventh player in the Premier League era to score trebles in successive league matches.
Haaland’s nine goals are more than the total of 15 of the 20 Premier League teams.
And another mischievous stat doing the rounds was that Haaland had scored more league goals in 84 minutes than Manchester United’s Anthony Martial had done in two years.
Embed from Getty ImagesGoodness knows what Haaland will achieve once he fully settles in at his new club.
“Amazing, nothing more to say,” said Haaland
“It was about keeping doing what we did in second half against Palace, play, play, play – it was nice.
“It’s been good so far, I’m not complaining.
“There’s going to be a lot of games, so it’s important to keep going and enjoy as much as we can.”
While Haaland unquestionably made the headlines once more, the efforts of Julian Alvarez, another new boy, should not go unnoticed.
The 22-year-old Argentine scored his first two goals for City, both clinical strikes. He was also denied by the woodwork as he, too, could have scored a treble.
There was also a spectacular strike from Joao Cancelo as Forest discovered the harsh reality of life in football’s elite division.
City manager Pep Guardiola said: “Erling has done it in Austria, Germany, Norway and now he has done it here. He has an incredible smell and talent for scoring goals.
“I know Erling is happy scoring goals, but what he wants is to win. If he breaks records but we don’t win, he won’t be happy.
“Julian and Erling have a special sense for the goal, it is difficult to buy or teach. The two goals from Julian are amazing, and Erling’s mentality is contagious for our team.
“He’s strong in all departments, but especially around the box, his finishing, and his work ethic is so great.
“The better we play, the more chances he will have and he will score.
“How good John Stones, Kyle (Walker), Rodri and Bernardo play will help him to score goals
“Alvarez has come from another continent, we see him every day, his work ethic. Being a nice guy pays off, there is not one person in the locker room not happy for his two goals.”
Guardiola added when it is difficult to break down teams, it is important to have two strikers who can score goals.
“Julian scored a lot of goals for River Plate where there is a lot of pressure to win. Now we have two strikers with incredible qualities.”
Forest manager Steve Cooper said: “They are an incredible team who have incredible players and also the way they play.
“It is as tough as it gets, not only in our league, but in the world.
“We would have had to be perfect to get anything – and we weren’t. The three goals we conceded in the first half, two from set-pieces, were soft.
“It is a massive learning curve and shows the smallest of errors can be punished.
“Tonight won’t define our season and the challenge is to turn it round for Saturday.
“We have to live and learn and, for the team we want to be, we have to recover from setbacks like this.”
Mikhail Gorbachev was President of the Soviet Union the last time Forest won a top flight game at City.
Gorbachev, who died at the age of 91, was still in his prime in November 1989 when Nigel Clough scored twice and Brian Rice also found the net in a memorable 3-0 win at their former Maine Road home.
City made two changes following their comeback victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Alvarez made his first Premier League start since his summer arrival from River Plate, replacing Riyad Mahrez.
Meanwhile it was bad news for thousands of fantasy football managers as Kevin de Bruyne was benched, Ilkay Gundogan starting in his place.
Cooper made three changes for Forestafter the defeat at home to Spurs on Sunday.
Renan Lodi, signed on loan from Atletico Madrid this week, went straight into the side, replacing Harry Toffolo at left wing-back.
Cheikhou Kouyate and Remo Freuler also came in, replacing Jesse Lingard and Steve Cook.
It was clear from the start it would be a long night for newly promoted Forest.
Alvares had already been denied by a smart stop from Dean Henderson before City made a 12th minute breakthrough.
Gundogan’s short corner went to Phil Foden whose cross was met by Haaland who got goalside of his marker to stab the ball home.
Forest’s first meaningful attack saw Lodi steal into an attacking position as he headed into the side netting from four yards following a right-wing cross.
City doubled their advantage mid-half after a wayward clearance from Henderson which was intercepted by Bernardo Silva.
Haaland put Henderson under pressure and the goalkeeper’s wayward clearance was intercepted by Bernardo Silva.
Silva found Haaland who unselfishly passed to Phil Foden who was tackled just as he was about to shoot and Haaland was there to roll the ball into an empty net.
City had the ball into the net for a third time after half an hour, but John Stones had strayed offside before converting Haaland’s flick on.
Haaland completed a hat-trick inside 38 minutes.
Phil Foden provided the cross and Stones headed back across goal for the Norwegian to nod in from almost on the line.
Alvarez then struck the upright with a drive from the edge of the box as City almost made it four before the break.
Haaland did not have a monopoly on the goals as Cancelo hit a stunning fourth for City five minutes after the break.
Silva was the provider with a run from the right before he squared a pass to Cancelo who fired high into the top corner.
Ten minutes into the half and it was time for City to make their first two changes as Rodri and Foden made way for Mahrez and Cole Palmer.
City added a fifth when Alvarez netted his first goal for the club.
Mahrez provided the assist for Alvarez to score with a low angled drive.
City made two further changes as Cancelo and Haaland made way for De Bruyne and Sergio Gomez.
Mahrez ought to have added a sixth when, clean through, he contrived to shoot wide.
Rico Lewis replaced Stones with 15 minutes left, City’s fifth and final change.
City hit a sixth with two minutes left as Alvarez scored his second of the night.
De Bruyne broke from his own half before releasing Mahrez whose shot was blocked only to rebound to the Argentine who lashed a shot from 12 yards into the top corner.
There was almost a seventh as De Bruyne broke clear only for his shot to be blocked by Henderson.