Unstoppable object and the immovable force

"I like it when he runs a lot," Pep Guardiola said last week. "I like when he presses like an animal. I like it."

- JOE BRAY

This was Guardiola laying down a fresh challenge to Erling Haaland, now scorer of 97 Manchester City goals in 102 games after his hat-trick at West Ham yesterday.

He is now within one game (thanks to his ridiculously high standards) of a ton for City, and he will surpass a goal-a-game record in all competitions if he continues his electric start to the season.

In the Premier League it's even better 70 goals in 69 appearances, with seven in three at the start of the new campaign. The trip to West Ham was a chance for Haaland to answer Guardiola's new demands at the place he scored the first of those 97 only two years and 24 days ago.

When Guardiola challenged Haaland to involve himself more in City's overall play, it was a departure from two years of protecting the striker from criticism of that very issue. Three seasons in, and it's over to Haaland to show he is more than just a goalscorer while still knocking them in for fun.

Guardiola offered a bit more context on the eve of this trip to London.

"It's going to happen naturally," he said.

"He can do it but his ability is his strength and potential and power and being a goal machine.