Pep Guardiola: He has quality

Manchester City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland celebrates scoring goal from the penalty spot against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Saturday. Pic/AFP

Pep Guardiola has coached arguably the greatest-ever football player in Lionel Messi, so it speaks volumes when he admits he has run out of words to describe Erling Haaland's start to life at Manchester City.

"My English language is not big enough," the City manager said after the Norway striker took his goal tally to 22 this season in a 3-1 win against Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Haaland, who had failed to find the back of the net in last week's 1-0 loss to Liverpool, quickly got over that mini-drought with two first-half goals as the Premier League champion moved to within a point of leader Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola

With 17 goals in the league, Haaland needs just six more to equal the 23 goals that saw Mo Salah and Son Heung-min share the Golden Boot as last season's joint leading scorers.

‘It's fantastic'

"Erling has the quality," Guardiola said. "With big space he can do it, but with small space he can do it. This is the reality, it is fantastic."

Haaland's goals have come in just 15 appearances in all competitions. He looked set to register his fourth hat trick of the season, with both goals coming before halftime. He opened the scoring after 22 minutes when racing on to Ederson's long clearance. With Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez stranded outside of his goal, Haaland overpowered Adam Webster and rolled the ball into an empty net.

He got his and City's second two minutes before half-time after referee Craig Pawson reviewed a challenge from Lewis Dunk on Bernardo Silva and awarded a penalty.

Also read: Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to be unpredictable against Arsenal

De Bruyne makes it 3-1

Solly March laid the ball off to Leandro Trossard just outside the penalty box and he unleashed a low drive that beat Ederson at his near post in the 53rd. Kevin de Bruyne made it 3-1 in the 75th with a superb 25-yard shot that curled into the top corner.

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