LONDON: Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has become the second player to score at least 20 goals in each of his first three Premier League campaigns.
The reigning champions beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 and moved back up to fourth in the league.
Haaland, who returned to action after missing Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool due to a knee injury, finished off Jeremy Doku’s pass in the 12th minute.
The Norwegian had a chance to add to the tally but Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario did a brilliant job denying several of his attempts as well as those from Doku and Savinho.
Haaland’s stoppage-time goal was also ruled out for offside. Tottenham came close to equalising after that, but Pape Matar Sarr’s header went over the bar.
City managed to avoid a third defeat at the hands of Tottenham this season and jumped to fourth place with 47 points after 27 matches.
Haaland has now scored 83 Premier League goals in 92 games for Manchester City.
“Of course it’s not good to be injured and not be able to play, but it’s about looking ahead and staying positive. We can only do things for now and the future, today it’s about winning.
“I try to stay in the box and if someone wants to pass the ball to me, I’ll try to put it in the net,” Haaland said.
Another player to score 20 goals or more in his first three Premier League seasons was Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United from the 2001 to 2004 seasons.