Haaland overtakes two England legends to break 28-year Prem record as team-mates give him unprecedented guard of honour
ERLING HAALAND has become the Premier League's all-time leading goalscorer in a single season.
The Manchester City ace has been devastating opposition defences all season, with West Ham being no exception.
After being played in behind by Jack Grealish, Haaland found himself bearing down on goal with history beckoning.
And he did not need a second invitation to make history as he produced a beautiful chip over Lukasz Fabianski.
The goal puts the insatiable ace on 35 league goals for the season after playing just 31 games.
This return means he now stands alone as the division's all-time leading scorer in a single season.
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England legends Andy Cole and Alan Shearer both achieved a remarkable return of 34 apiece in the 1993/94 and 1994/95 seasons respectively - both 42-game seasons.
But now Haaland has proceeded to blow their records out of the water in a 38-game season, and with five games remaining to consolidate it further.
Following the match, Man City players and staff gave the 22-year-old a guard of honour before entering the tunnel.
His goal against West Ham also means he has scored in each of his last six consecutive league appearances.
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The former Borussia Dortmund star's strike was sandwiched by goals from Nathan Ake and Phil Foden in a routine 3-0 win.
The goals he has put up have been vital in ensuring City's hunt for a third title in a row remained on track even when the rest of the team appeared to be faltering.
Critics prematurely declared earlier this season that City played worse with Haaland in the team.
However, a tactical shift from Pep Guardiola has allowed the squad to rediscover its groove, putting together nine wins on the spin in the league including a 4-1 win over former Prem leaders Arsenal.
Indeed, Haaland has now scored against 17 different teams this season, with only Brentford and Chelsea escaping his wrath thus far - though he will likely face both before the season's end.
Haaland may also prove to be the missing piece of the puzzle as City aim for a historic treble.
The Norwegian has scored 12 goals in the Champions League, with potentially three more games to go as City gear up to face Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, he has also added three goals in as many games on the way to the FA Cup final.
Reacting to the achievement, Haaland told Sky Sports: "[It's a] Special night and a special moment. I'm really happy and proud."
Asked whether the record was on his mind, he replied: "Of course I knew about it but we tried to create the chances to score goals, they came here to try and defend for 90 minutes.
"It was an important win. You see what my first thought is, to run towards the goal.
"Me and Jack talked about it before the game, he wanted to give me the pass for the record goal.
"It was a perfect pass from Jack. It was a really perfect bounce before I chipped the ball, I didn't think of it before I chipped it but the opportunity was there."
Although Haaland admitted the guard of honour he received was actually quite "painful".
He revealed: "It was really painful this guard of honour, everyone hit me in the back, but it was really nice. I'm really happy."
On whether he can break Dixie Dean's all-time record of goals for a top flight club - 63 in the 1927-28 season - he added: "We cannot keep thinking about these records, I will become crazy in my head.
"I will go home now and play some video games and tomorrow we will think about Leeds."
However, with City hunting a Treble, he declared he would cast aside all of his individual awards in order to win three trophies.
Team-mate Ake lavished Haaland with praise after the game telling : "Yeah it's crazy you know.
"The way he came in and does what he does every day and today again scoring the goals, he's always there.
"And to be honest he deserves everything he gets because he's a top player."
Guardiola also joined in the praise for his talisman, saying: "He's unbelievable, a unique person, he deserves the guard of honour because it's an incredible milestone.
"Maybe one day he'll break his record."
Ex-City star Micah Richards added his own praise, telling Sky Sports: "Honestly, Erling Haaland is absolutely incredible. Astonishing scenes from a top, top individual.
"This is his debut season - to do what he has done is absolutely breathtaking.
"He's so humble with it as well. He looks eager for more.
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"I thought he would score goals but I didn't envisage this many. I thought debut season, 25 goals.
"But to beat the record in 31 appearances, it's astonishing."