04/11/2025

Read

iPaper at Malaysian Paper

www.thesun.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download

app from the App Store or Google Play TM . Malaysian Paper or download

SCAN ME

SCAN ME

TUESDAY | NOV 4, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Erling Haaland scores Manchester City’s first goal during yesterday’s English Premier League match against Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium. – REUTERSPIC

Back on top

At the double … again! Haaland takes fearsome dominance of

Story on page 28

Real X factor

Story on page 29

Premier League to another level

Yusri over the moon

Story on page 31

Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

Haaland’s dominance is such that he has more than twice as many goals as anyone else. Indeed, City are the Premier League’s most prolific side, though only one of their players has more than one goal in the division this season. Haaland, though, became the third player to score at least two goals in four straight home Premier League appearances, after Robbie Fowler and Luis Suarez. “Have you seen the numbers of that guy?” asked Pep Guardiola. “He lives for the goals. Without him, it would be tough!” Asked if he can be compared with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Guardiola added: “Of course he’s at that level. The difference of Cristiano and Messi is the numbers have been for 15 years. “Messi is in MLS and still scores two or three goals every day, Cristiano in Saudi is the same. But he’s at that level.” Only one player has scored more times in the first 10 matches of a Premier League campaign. And he, predictably, is Haaland himself. “I didn’t score last game,” noted the Norwegian who, after drawing a blank at Aston

Villa, was rested at Swansea. Normal service was resumed on his return. He received some assistance. From Rayan Cherki, who justified his inclusion ahead of Tijjani Reijnders with a brace of assists. If Haaland’s excellence was predictable, Cherki represented the major positive of City’s afternoon. His maiden Premier League cam paign has been interrupted by injury but the Frenchman chalked up 20 assists for Lyon last season. He had two in the first half against Bournemouth and, for good measure, almost scored with a freekick. “He has the courage to play,” said Guardiola. “He has this special talent, the connection with the people up front that is unique. The vision in the final third is so good.” City’s third goal came from Nico O’Reilly. The marauding left-back had a first-half shot cleared off the line by Marcos Senesi and angled in a shot on the hour. It finished off Bournemouth, who had begun brightly. Eli Kroupi Junior found the City net after 48 seconds, but he was offside. Iraola’s side

levelled courtesy of a first mistake of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s City career, the goalkeeper only contriving to punch Alex Scott’s corner up in the air and allowing Tyler Adams to volley in his first Bournemouth goal. The Italian argued David Brooks had grabbed his arm. His protests brought a booking. Guardiola was no happier. “I’m sorry to tell you we conceded an unbe lievable goal for the official,” he complained. Meanwhile, Bournemouth could have struck again, Adams shooting wide and Donnarumma denying Kroupi. “We played a decent game but this is not enough,” added Iraola. “At this stadium you need to have something special.” Which City had in their No. 9. They also had their Ballon d’Or winner back. Rodri’s first appearance in four weeks was as a 90th-minute substitute. His return may be well-timed, with Liverpool visiting this week, with Mateo Kovacic ruled out for months. Yet important as Rodri is, Haaland can feel still more so. He is less the joker than the ace in the pack. – The Independent

E ARLIER this week Erling Haaland had dressed up as the Joker to go out on the streets of greater Manchester for Halloween. At the weekend, he donned the garb of a Manchester City striker to go out on the Etihad Stadium pitch. It is a moot point which was the scarier sight. Bournemouth’s petrified defence could be forgiven for thinking it was Haaland in a sky blue No. 9 shirt. They may have been scarred by a footballer who is bigger and quicker than every one else galloping away. Not that Haaland subjected them to special punishment. It was simply that, for the fourth consecutive League game at the Etihad Stadium, he struck twice. Bournemouth kicked off unbeaten since the opening day of the season and as Arsenal’s clos est challengers. By the time Haaland had fin ished, they had ceded that status to City. If the League table may be taking shape after 10 games, the scoring charts certainly are.

theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2625 Email: newsdesk@thesundaily.com • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com