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Soccer

Fewer than 52 goals next season would be 'a failure' for Erling Haaland, says former Manchester United striker

Fewer than 52 goals next season would be 'a failure' for Erling Haaland, says former Manchester United strikerGetty Images

Erling Haaland was the most dominant striker in the world last season, helping Manchester City win a treble in his first season with the club.

The 22-year-old was unplayable for large stretches of the 2022-23 campaign, breaking the single-season record for Premier League goals on his first try.

With such a successful season under his belt, expectations for the Norwegian will be sky high in the upcoming campaign. Bursting onto the scene in England the way he did could work against Haaland when the new season kicks off in August, according to former Manchester United forward Dwight Yorke.

Yorke was speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Premier League odds here, and the man who himself won a treble with the Red Devils in 1999 warned that Haaland has set the bar extremely high for himself after his prolific debut season with the Sky Blues.

"If Erling Haaland doesn't score more than 52 goals in all competitions like he did last season, then his season will be seen as a failure and people will say he's not as prolific as he used to be, even if he scored 49 goals," Yorke said. "Haaland started off his Premier League career with back-to-back hat-tricks, if he doesn't do that next year then people will be scratching their heads because that's the standard he's set.

"It's how it is, his rampage of goals has set high expectations and people will say he's had a poor season if he doesn't match his goal record.

"It's the cons of being a striker, but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo hit their numbers every year and that's why they're the greats of the sport."

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