Is Erling Haaland the last piece in the jigsaw for Manchester City?

The Norway forward arrived at City in the summer with the promise of goals and has since scored 161 times for the club and country.

Haaland has scored 13 hat- tricks.

He received a standing ovation when he was taken out of the game late on in the 4-2 win over Crystal Palace.

He has reached three quarter-finals, the semi-finals and one final in the past five seasons, but could he be the man to get them over the line?

Erling's efficiency

The ruthless efficiency in front of goal that Haaland has has been a key aspect of City's early games.

Haaland scored two goals despite only having 32 touches of the ball in the club's opening victory.

He only had eight touches against Bournemouth and did not see the ball for 27 minutes.

His three-goal burst against the Eagles came from seven shots and just 16 touches, and the problem for defenders is that he is capable of exploding into life at any moment.

Haaland's physical qualities, anticipation and acceleration were all evident at Etihad Stadium on Saturday with his goals coming from a headed goal, a tap-in and a powerful run between defenders that was finished off by a cool finish

He wanted that. He is always there when you don't feel like he's involved in the game.

Haaland 'has the sense to score goals' - Pep Guardiola

It is amazing as a forward. He doesn't touch the ball but he has a feeling that the ball is in his possession.

The sense of the strikers is there, and he is going to score from John Stones' effort.

He put the ball in the net if the keeper couldn't save it. His numbers are amazing. Erling has done this many times. He's scored goals everywhere he's been.

How many for Haaland?

The Norwegian was the fastest and youngest player in the competition to score 20 goals, and has a current ratio of 1.21 goals per game in the competition.

Club/CountryAppearancesStartsGoalsHat-tricks
Norway2120202
Molde5028201
Red Bull Salzburg2717295
Borussia Dortmund8979864
Manchester City4461
Total19114816113

In his first season at City, he reverted to using an orthodox central forward, having won the title without one.

It has paid dividends for Haaland, who is the division's top scorer, and a player Alan Shearer believes is capable of scoring more than 30 goals.

Shearer said that when you have someone as good as him, other players will be easier to play against.

The amount of chances they create should make him want to score more than 30 goals.

For a long time, City had been playing without a main man. He is seen as the last piece in the puzzle to get them over the line in the league.

Only eight forwards have scored 30 goals or more in a premier league season, but if Haaland continues on his current trajectory that target is well within reach

Haaland will surpass his father's 18 goals in the premier league by the 20th of October when City plays in the title game.

He said that he would chase his father's goal total in the premier league.

I'm here to turn things around when it's hard. It was amazing to score a hat- trick.

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