Erling Haaland scores on his Premier League debut, it's the first of many

Erling Haaland took just 35 minutes to score on his Premier League debut opening his account for Manchester City away at West Ham.

The Norwegian powerhouse, a £51 million summer signing, was relatively quiet in the opening exchanges at the London Stadium but soon put that Community Shield miss behind him from last week.

Ilkay Gundogan slipped Haaland in behind and he demonstrated a frightening turn of pace to dart in behind the Hammers backline.

He beat substitute goalkeeper Alphonse Areola to the ball and the French goalkeeper brought Haaland down inside the area.

The former Borussia Dortmund man immediately picked up the ball and sent Areola the wrong way with a confident side-foot spot-kick in the 35th minute.

It was Haaland's first shot on target of his Premier League career and he was uber clinical from 12 yards. He then performed his trademark yoga celebration and even gave the West Ham fans the shushing treatment.

Haaland's goal continues his record of scoring on his debut in competitions, having immediately got off the mark in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

Haaland finished his stint at Dortmund with a ridiculous record of 86 goals in 89 and many have backed him to win the Golden Boot in his first season at City.

One of those tipping Haaland to do just that is Manchester United and England record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, who thinks he will be the difference in the title race.

In his column for The Times, Rooney wrote: "In the Champions League and the Bundesliga Haaland has already proven his qualities at the highest level and last Saturday against Liverpool he was in the right positions, finding chances, moving cleverly and looking quick, strong, and aggressive in his running.

“Maybe the main way City, under Pep Guardiola, score is though low balls played across the penalty box.

“Haaland scored in exactly that manner on his City debut in a friendly with Bayern Munich and against Liverpool the two big opportunities he passed up were in central positions six yards out that he had moved into during attacks where City switched play wide.

“If he keeps doing that, goal after goal will come — because his finishing ability is not in doubt.”

Featured Image Credit: Image: Sky Sports

Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Erling Haaland

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

@joshlawless_