Erling Haaland has been putting up numbers that suggest the Premier League prize race is settled for most of the season, yet the buzz around him remains strangely subdued.
Even Josep Guardiola expressed warmer than usual praise for his No. 9 after Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United. This performance wasn’t defined by the goal alone, but by an overall effort that highlighted why Haaland deserves stronger consideration as the league’s Player of the Year.
Haaland’s performance against Newcastle was one of his most complete performances in a City shirt. He won more duels than ever in a Premier League match, kept in good physical shape and continued to put constant pressure on defenders. This workload helped City secure an important win that kept leaders Arsenal within striking distance with 11 games remaining. Such contributions will be important in a title battle that will be decided by a narrow margin.
Erling Haaland falls in love with British croissants
Haaland thrives under pressure
Guardiola has consistently held Haaland to exceptional standards, largely because the striker has set the standards himself. His ability to score goals often defies explanation. He routinely produces difficult finishes and thrives in tight spaces where most forwards would stall. Ironically, that consistency could work against him in public. When a goal is expected, it is taken for granted.
There is also a persistent theory that Haaland is a specialist rather than a complete footballer, as if scoring at an unprecedented rate is somehow a limited skill set. The numbers call that view into question. He leads the league scoring list with five goals and has contributed 29 goals this season. If he maintains his current pace, he is on pace to reach age 40. These are benchmarks typically reserved for the league’s elite through the ages.
Beyond his goalscoring, Haaland’s wider influence has grown as the season has progressed. After a winter stretch where his energy dropped, his work rate has returned. Against Newcastle, he sent a precise chip into the box that Nico O’Reilly headed home. Early in the season, he provided a vital assist to Bernardo Silva at Anfield. With seven assists in the league, only Bruno Fernandes has more. This achievement makes Haaland not only one of England’s most prolific finishers, but also one of England’s most complete attacking players.
More candidates for player of the year
Still, the Player of the Year debate appears to be more open than his opinion suggests. Declan Rice has been a great asset to Arsenal and will be a worthy player if he leads the club to their first title under manager Mikel Arteta. However, it is difficult to identify another player whose direct contributions can match Haaland’s impact, both in terms of goals and assists.
Criticism has also come from prominent pundits such as Jamie Carragher, who recently suggested that Haaland is not consistently good in the biggest games. That narrative overlooks the cumulative pressure he places on top defensemen and the space he creates for his teammates. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and defender Dan Byrne saw firsthand how destructive he could be over the course of 90 minutes.
City’s run-in gives Haaland another opportunity to rebuild the conversation as the title race heats up. If he maintains his current level and can lead City past Arsenal in the final weeks, this incident will be difficult to ignore. In a league defined by close margins, no player has had such a direct impact on the scoreboard. For a team aiming for another championship, that alone should have an important meaning in the discussion of Player of the Year.
