Erling Haaland is inevitable — but Manchester City’s over-reliance on striker is unhealthy

Have Manchester City become overly dependent on Erling Haaland? - (Getty Images)

For Manchester City’s second highest scorer this season, Saturday brought a 2-0 win to enjoy. Not a City victory, admittedly, because he can scarcely savour a status as Erling Haaland’s closest challenger. But, more than two months into the campaign, only the Norwegian has scored more goals for City than Maxime Esteve. Who, rather than participating in City’s defeat of Everton, helped Burnley keep a clean sheet as they beat Leeds.

In all competitions, Phil Foden has also struck twice for City. In the Premier League, no one has. Esteve’s two own goals came in Burnley’s 5-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium. Since the French defender’s inadvertent second, City have found the net seven times. The scorers? Haaland, Haaland, Haaland, Haaland, Haaland, Haaland and Haaland.