The flagging up that Manchester City phenomenon Erling Haaland has scored more goals than Dixie Dean at the equivalent stage of his record-breaking 1927/28 season has at least reminded the wider world that Everton possess one of the most-storied heritages in football and that there were great players before the creation of the Premier League.
Just eight games into his Premier League career, Haaland’s hat-trick in City’s 6-3 Manchester derby thrashing of neighbours United took his total so far this term to 14 goals – double the tally of his nearest challenger for the Golden Boot, Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur.
Dean, who as every Evertonian surely knows, netted 60 goals in 1927/28, was on a ‘mere’ 12 some eight matches into that campaign, although it is worth noting that he then plundered five goals against Manchester United in his ninth game.
