If Erling Haaland maintained his current strike-rate and game time, he could finish the season with 60 goals and extend it to 64.

The 22-year-old would register 84 goals this season if he was never hooked off. That is bad news for Manchester United.

When asked which opponent he was most looking forward to facing in England, the Norway international named City's rivals. The city of Manchester, United Kingdom.

Haaland's streak of scoring or assisting at least once in every league game this season was ended by Wolves three days later, but he still managed to score and assist in the game.

How can Manchester United stop Haaland from scoring?

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Wolves vs Man City Highlights
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights of Wolves against Manchester City in the Premier League

Hitman Haaland

The 22-year-old has netted 11 goals from just seven appearances in the top flight, and has also been substituted early in all but three of them.

The league ratio of 1.72 goals per 90 minutes is more potent than any other player in Europe's top five league this season.

PER 90

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The chart below plots goals and expected-goal returns for all Premier League players this season, and shows the scale of the strikers early form.

Harry Kane and Ivan Toney are two of the forwards from the opposition who are in consistent form.

Critics might say that any established forward in the side would convert bags of goals based on the amount of chances they create.

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Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has already scored 11 Premier League goals this season
Speaking on The Essential Football Podcast, Sky Sports football journalist Joe Shread agrees with Jamie Carragher's suggestion that Erling Haaland could become one of the Premier League's greatest ever players

The Norwegian has nearly doubled his xG returns, scoring almost five goals more than the 6.5 expected from chances presented to him.

RANKS

Haaland's current goal haul equates to one goal from every 1.5 shots on target, which shows the clinical finishing to date.

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Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland puts away a cross from Kevin De Bruyne to give City the lead over Aston Villa

Key to stopping Haaland?

The shot map shows that City's new No 9 has converted six of his haul from inside the six-yard box, with another four coming from between the six- and 18-yard lines, while all goals were fired from the central third of the opposition box.

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In terms of shot placement, Haaland has an almost perfect conversion rate when firing to the left side of the goal, netting six of seven shots on target, and scoring with around half of his attempts in the center of the goal and to the right.

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The left-of-center channel is where Haaland's greatest threat lies. Both central defenders will be looking to snuff out passes from both sides in order to avoid being bamboozled by Raphael Varane's movement inside the six-yard box.

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Steve Howey talks about Erling Haaland's stengths, who is seen celebrating a goal against Nottingham Forest
Former Manchester City defender Steve Howey says Erling Haaland is the complete centre-forward and thinks he would need to turn to the 'dark arts' to stop him if he was playing against him

The Argentine has impressed to date, showing impressive leaping power and solid aerial protection, and the City could well look to exploit his small stature in this area.

All-round game

Haaland registered his only league assist so far this term in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth with his first touch of the game, so, unlike traditional City players, Haaland typically fires on sight, but usually from an advantage position.

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Manchester City Nottingham Forest
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest

The 22-year-old averages far fewer touches, dribbles and final-third passes than other forwards, a deficiency City and most clubs would trade for his prolific strike-rate.

Haaland scored a goal in nine per cent of his actions on the ball, after only eight touches against the Cherries.

In the last three league outings combined, the Norwegian has only registered seven touches in his own half.

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In terms of passing, Haaland tends to drift and combine with team-mates across the width of the penalty box, with a slightly higher concentration of exchanges down left-of-centre areas.

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City have traditionally started seasons slowly and this season is no exception after dropping points at Villa Park and Newcastle but there are signs that they have changed their style a bit.

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Manchester City - Crystal Palace
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League

The graphic below shows how Haaland averages in a similar position to the false nine last term, although this is based on his limited touches, and suggests Kevin De Bruyne is pushing slightly higher this term.

Erling Haaland shaded in light blue
Image: Erling Haaland shaded in light blue

In terms of raw attacking numbers, City have taken their goals-per-game ratio to a new high, currently averaging at 3.3 per game.

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Erling Haaland
Jamie Carragher believes Erling Haaland could become the best Premier League player ever.

The expected goals and shots on target are down, which shows how Haaland's form has propped up dips in build up play.

In addition to matching their attempted through-balls, City are also firing almost the same number of crosses as last season.

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If he played every minute of normal time, he would finish the season with 64 league goals. United will be looking to keep the Norwegian quiet on Sunday and possibly end his goal involvement in every league start.

'Haaland is just unfair - he's like a Bond villain'

Gary Neville is a commentator for Sky sports.

There are things happening this season that are not smooth but I think Manchester City will win the league and it will be easy.

It looks like it's not fair. Jaws, the character in the James Bond films, was about 7 feet 2in. He used to pick people up and throw them on the floor when he was a player. How do you deal with him in the box?

Haaland's career at City will likely prolong his overall career because he's just standing there. You don't see him stretching teams when Manchester City gets one or two in front.

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Erling Haaland, Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola compares Erling Haaland to Johan Cruyff following his stunning goal against Borussia Dortmund

I am very impressed with him. It's the first time we've signed a player who I think is one of the top two or three players in the world. Usually those players go to Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid. When they were here, they didn't sign to be the best players in the world, but to be the best players in the world.

You fully expect this player to win the Ballon d'Or and be the best player in the world. It's been a long time since that happened in the premier league.