Erling Haaland blew up at Manchester City team-mate Jack Grealish before marching off to be substituted during Saturday’s thumping win over Wolves. The Norwegian was at his dominant best as he scored four goals in a Premier League game for the first time to keep the pressure on title rivals Arsenal.
Haaland flourished at the Etihad Stadium with Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden pulling the strings behind him. Grealish sat on the bench until the final 10 minutes, and within moments of his introduction, the former Aston Villa riled up City’s star striker.
Receiving a line-breaking pass from Ederson, Grealish’s first touch took him back towards his own goal and he was awarded a free-kick after a challenge from Santiago Bueno. Haaland, meanwhile, seemingly wanted his team-mate to try and turn his man so City could hit on the break.
And he let him know as much, bellowing in Grealish’s direction with his arms spread wide and mouthing the words ‘f***ing unbelievable’. Haaland was substituted seconds later and continued venting his frustration as he trudged off the pitch.
The 23-year-old had already scored a hat-trick by the half-time break and added another in the second half, taking him well clear of Cole Palmer and Alexander Isak in the race for the Golden Boot.
But being denied the chance to notch a fifth goal in one game – as he has done twice before for City in cup competitions – was seemingly enough for Haaland to see red. The former Borussia Dortmund frontman is now on 25 Premier League goals this term – 11 fewer than the record-breaking total he managed in 2022/23.
He still has three matches to add to that total as City look to chase down Arsenal at the top of the table. The Gunners are one point ahead following their win over Bournemouth on Saturday, but they have played a game more than the reigning champions.
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