The LED screen shows the Premier League record achievement of Erling Haaland of Manchester City after scoring their 35th goal of the season during the match against West Ham United at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, UK, May 3, 2023. /CFP
Manchester City's Erling Haaland continued his incredible debut campaign in England as he broke the record for most goals in a single Premier League season on Wednesday when he struck his side's second against West Ham United.
The 3-0 victory put City back on top of the Premier League table, one point above Arsenal who the previous night had thrown down the gauntlet by outclassing Chelsea.
The Norwegian goal-machine's chipped finish from a Jack Grealish pass in the 70th minute took him to 35, past the record he had shared with Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.
"It's a special night and a special moment. I'm really happy and proud. I don't know what else to say," Haaland said after the game. "I knew about the record, of course, but we tried to create chances to score and it wasn't easy because they wanted to defend. We struggled in the first half but they eventually came."
Manchester City striker Erling Harland (R) shoots the ball during the match against West Ham United at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, UK, May 3, 2023. /CFP
"He deserved (the honour guard)," manager Pep Guardiola said. "...All the team deserved it, because without the team he couldn't do it, but he's a special striker."
His dad Alfie Haaland, who also played for City, watched from one of the boxes with a wide smile and accepted congratulatory handshakes from everyone around him.
Haaland, who is only 22 and in his debut Premier League season, has five more games to extend the record.
He has also rewritten a handful of Champions League records, having taken just 27 matches to reach 35 goals in Europe’s premier club competition. He was the youngest to reach 30 goals, beating French forward Kylian Mbappe by 116 days.
He became only the third player in history to score five goals in a Champions League game in City’s 7-0 rout of RB Leipzig in their last-16 game on March 14.
Last week, he became the first player in England's top flight to score 50 goals in all competitions in a season since Tom Waring did so for Aston Villa in 1931.
Manchester City striker Erling Harland celebrates after scoring the second City goal and his record breaking 35th Premier League goal of the season during the match against West Ham United at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, UK, May 3, 2023. /CFP
In another game, Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot to keep Liverpool's slim hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League alive as they secured a 1-0 win over Fulham at Anfield.
The win lifts Liverpool to 59 points, four behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who have two games in hand over the Merseysiders, while Fulham are 10th on 45 points.
(With input from agencies)