Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday, November 3, 2025, was more than just another tick in the win column—it was a showcase for Erling Haaland’s relentless form and a statement about the club’s ambitions in a season that’s been anything but straightforward. The Norwegian striker, who has become synonymous with goals since arriving at the Etihad, delivered yet again, scoring twice and pushing his Premier League tally to a staggering 13 goals in just 10 games. If anyone wondered whether City’s reliance on Haaland was a blessing or a burden, the answer was written all over the pitch: it’s both, and right now, it’s working wonders.
Haaland’s brace against the Cherries was a masterclass in movement and finishing. The first goal, celebrated with his now-famous robot routine, set the tone early. Rayan Cherki, City’s versatile summer signing from Lyon, played a pivotal role, linking up with Haaland for both of his goals. “I know Erling, he knows me. When I play with him and he with me, it’s very simple,” Cherki explained after the match. “My job is give the ball to Erling and he scores.” Simple, perhaps, but devastatingly effective.
City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, couldn’t hide his admiration for his star striker. “Have you seen the numbers of that guy? Of course he has [to be on the same level as them],” Guardiola said, referencing the legendary Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. “The numbers from Cristiano and Messi have been for 15 years, Messi is still scoring two, three goals every game and Cristiano in Saudi Arabia, the same. This is that level.” Guardiola’s praise was effusive but grounded in cold, hard stats—Haaland now has 98 goals in 107 Premier League appearances and has already found the net 26 times for club and country in the 2025-26 season.
Manchester City’s attacking output this season has been nothing short of remarkable, but it’s Haaland who has carried the bulk of the load. He has scored 68.4% of City’s Premier League goals so far, the highest rate for any player in the division. For context, the next closest are Jean-Philippe Mateta and Igor Thiago, who account for 42.9% of Crystal Palace and Brentford’s goals, respectively. City’s second-most prolific Premier League scorer isn’t even a City player—it’s Burnley defender Maxime Esteve, who netted two own goals at the Etihad back in September.
Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders, Matheus Nunes, Rayan Cherki, and Nico O’Reilly have each scored once in the league, highlighting the need for more contributors. Guardiola has been vocal about this, noting, “The numbers of the people up front have to be better. They know it, we talk about it. We have players with the ability to score goals. Omar has it, I think Rayan Cherki has the talent. Phil does it.” The return of Omar Marmoush and Cherki from injury—both of whom scored in the recent 3-1 Carabao Cup win at Swansea—couldn’t have come at a better time. Cherki, who missed almost two months with a thigh injury after scoring in the opening win against Wolves, is now providing Guardiola with new tactical options, including the possibility of deploying him as a false nine.
Haaland’s appetite for records seems insatiable. According to OptaJoe, he’s now the third player in Premier League history to score more than two goals in four or more consecutive home games, joining Robbie Fowler (four games in 1995/96) and Luis Suarez (five games in 2013). His 12 goals in the first 10 league matches ties him with Les Ferdinand’s 1995-96 mark and his own 15-goal burst in 2022-23. With 96 goals in just 106 Premier League appearances, Haaland is five away from surpassing Alan Shearer’s record as the fastest player to 100 goals—a milestone Shearer set in 124 games.
But it’s not just about the numbers. Haaland’s evolution from a pure poacher to an all-around forward has been evident. He’s dropping deeper, linking play, and becoming more involved in City’s buildup. After the Bournemouth win, Haaland told Sky Sports, “I didn’t score last game. I try to help the team to win—that’s my goal. Even by scoring, helping or winning duels, it doesn’t matter as long as we are winning games. I want to help the team become a better football team, that’s my job.”
Bournemouth, who entered the match with the most goals from fast breaks in the league, were undone by City’s own speed in transition. Haaland’s first goal came from a rapid counter, with Cherki threading the final pass. Sixteen minutes later, after Tyler Adams had briefly leveled for the visitors, Haaland restored City’s lead with another breakaway, rounding goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic before tapping home. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola acknowledged the difficulty of defending against Haaland’s pace: “You lose one metre against Haaland, you are not recovering. It is going to be three metres at the end of the play. You sit deeper and maybe Haaland scores two headers at the second post because maybe they have 25 crosses.”
City’s ability to adapt their style was on full display. Bournemouth actually had more possession (52%) and completed more passes (521 to 493), but City’s directness and clinical finishing made the difference. The growing partnership between Haaland and Cherki could be a game-changer as the season progresses, especially with crucial fixtures on the horizon.
The win propelled City up to second in the Premier League, six points behind a relentless Arsenal side that continues to set the pace. Guardiola remains optimistic, saying, “We’re in a better position in the Champions League than last season. We have an incredible chance with Dortmund and Leverkusen (the next two home games in the competition) to qualify for the last eight. Even with that, when we make this next step we will be closer. When games are tighter, we’ll be able to win.”
Manchester City’s season is entering a pivotal stretch. After Bournemouth, they face Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League showdown and then welcome Liverpool to the Etihad. Haaland’s form, the return of key players from injury, and the emergence of new attacking partnerships have given Guardiola plenty to smile about. But as the City boss and his star striker both acknowledge, it will take a collective effort to chase down Arsenal and compete on multiple fronts.
As the autumn chill settles over Manchester, the blue half of the city can take heart: with Haaland leading the line and the squad returning to full strength, the hunt for silverware remains very much alive.
