Erling Haaland is taking English soccer by storm. Back-to-back hat tricks. Nine goals in five games. No player has ever made as good a start to the Premier League as the towering Norway striker. Haaland`s latest three-goal haul came in the first half of City`s 6-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, three days after achieving the same feat in the second half against Crystal Palace. City was banking on Haaland being the heir to long-time striker Sergio Aguero and it`s already looking as if that is the case. Aguero previously held the record for most goals in a player`s first five Premier League appearances, with eight along with former Coventry striker Mick Quinn (from the early 1990s).

Haaland has bettered that, and surely more scoring records will fall if he continues like this. For example, can he become the first player to score 40 goals in a single top-flight campaign in England since Tottenham`s Jimmy Greaves in 1960-61? "What Haaland wants is to win titles," Guardiola said of the striker who scored with his left foot, right foot and head against Forest. "Knowing him, he would not be happy to break records if we don`t win titles. "Sergio is a legend, no one can break his position in the hearts of Man City fans. But Erling has the quality to be there." City is the red-hot favorite to win the Premier League again with Haaland leading the line and is unbeaten with four wins from five games.

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Even its back-up striker is scoring, with Julian Alvarez, an offseason arrival from River Plate, marking his first start with two goals in the second half. Joao Cancelo also scored with a blast from outside the box. Still, the champions aren`t top. That honor remains with Arsenal.