Records are meant to be broken, and Erling Haaland is no stranger to this fact. The Norwegian sensation, who set the Premier League ablaze with his remarkable goal-scoring prowess, now finds himself at the center of a tantalizing challenge. Recently, a Premier League icon has thrown down the gauntlet, daring Haaland to match not one but two of his unique records.
Breaking the record for the highest number of goals scored in a single Premier League season, 36, Haaland helped Manchester City win the treble for the first time in their history.
The challenge set by a Premier League stalwart
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Jonathan Walters, a name synonymous with the Premier League, plied his trade for clubs like Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City, and Burnley, and brought his own unique brand of soccer to England’s top flight. There are two records, in particular, that define the legacy of the former Stoke City forward – his remarkable streak of 100 consecutive appearances and the rare occurrence of scoring two own goals in a single match.
Walters, now retired from professional soccer, took to Twitter to extend a challenge to Erling Haaland. In his tweet, he stated that Haaland had already surpassed the number of Premier League goals scored by Walters. However, the former Ireland international added a twist to the tale.
He said,”If you can now match my 2 own goals in a match and overtake my consecutive PL appearances record…I will happily declare you as one of the Premier League greats. There is work to do big man @ErlingHaaland.”
Erling Haaland clearly came to the @premierleague with high ambitions and records to break.
At the weekend he officially passed my PL goal scoring record! If you can now match my 2 own goals in a match and overtake my consecutive PL appearances record…I will happily declare…— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) September 25, 2023
The challenge set forth by Walters is no small feat. His 100 consecutive appearances in the Premier League remain a testament to his durability and consistency, a feat that only a few have come close to replicating. Apart from that, the unusual achievement of scoring two goals in a single match highlights the unpredictable nature of soccer.
Although Haaland has not yet responded to Walters’ challenge, it is clear that he is set on the path to becoming one of the Premier League greats. He has already made a significant impact on the league, and looking at the Manchester City side, he is only just getting started.
Erling Haaland and his quest for greatness
Haaland is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, and he is still only 23 years old. With scoring a remarkable 52 goals last term with Manchester City, he has the potential to break every goalscoring record in the Premier League. Although, scoring two own goals in a single match looks highly unlikely, breaking the record for most consecutive Premier League appearances would be a challenge to ponder on.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is known for rotating his squad heavily, and looking at the performances of his star striker, Haaland is likely to be given plenty of rest throughout the season. However, breaking Walters’ record for appearances is something that he is capable of. He has missed just a few games for City since joining the club, and he has shown that he can recover quickly from injuries.
As Haaland basks in the glow of his goal-scoring prowess and Manchester City’s impressive run at the top of the Premier League table, the challenge from Walters adds a new layer of intrigue to his journey. The soccer world waits with bated breath to see if Erling Haaland is up to the challenge, as he seeks to etch his name alongside the greats of the Premier League.
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