Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be influential in Matchweek 37.
Player analysis: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Scoring five times in his last 116 minutes of Premier League football, Haaland has ominously found top form at the business end of Man City’s season ahead of Saturday's lunchtime trip to Fulham.
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His superb four-goal haul against Wolverhampton Wanderers – which took him to 25 Premier League goals for the season - may have included two penalty kicks, but the Norwegian was at his rampaging best throughout.
Hitting the target with seven of his eight attempts, Haaland proved too hot for Wolves to handle in the air and on the ground and was unfortunate not to net five or six goals.
Sharper movement
Injury niggles have disrupted the 23-year-old’s season, but his fitness looked the best it has been in 2023/24 in the thrashing of Wolves.
He only touched the ball on 32 occasions, but it was noticeable how much snappier Haaland’s movement was when City had possession.
Before the match, he had averaged 29.1 off-the-ball runs per 90 minutes across the campaign, but during the strikers’ 82-minute display, he made an impressive 38 runs.
It was the second-highest number of off-the-ball runs he has made in a match this season, and his most by far in 2024.
Haaland's most off the ball runs 23/24
| Date | Opponent | Total runs | Mins played |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 23 | Newcastle (H) | 40 | 90 |
| 4 Apr 24 | Wolves (H) | 38 | 82 |
| 21 Oct 23 | Brighton (H) | 37 | 90 |
| 2 Sep 23 | Fulham (H) | 36 | 90 |
| 12 Nov 23 | Chelsea (A) | 34 | 90 |
The prospect of facing an on-song Haaland focuses the full attention of all central defenders, but Fulham’s duo of Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey have extra reason to be on edge ahead of this encounter.
City’s leading scorer, free of injury, smashed his top speed record for the season in their last fixture.
Improving his previous best of 34.69km/h set against Brentford in February, Haaland was clocked at an extraordinary 36.32km/h during the win against Wolves.
Physically it would appear he is feeling fresh and full of running ahead of their trip to Craven Cottage.
Haaland's top speeds 23/24
| Date | Opponent | Top speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 24 | Wolves (H) | 36.32 |
| 5 Feb 24 | Brentford (A) | 34.69 |
| 12 Nov 23 | Chelsea (A) | 34.58 |
| 21 Oct 23 | Brighton (H) | 34.49 |
| 11 Aug 23 | Burnley (A) | 34.11 |
Aerial threat
Stopping Haaland from using his pace and running power to get onto through-balls will be Fulham’s number one priority, but his threat in the air is just as strong.
Haaland has scored four headers from 11 attempts this season, and two of them caused Wolves major problems.
Bernardo Silva hung up a cross for the City striker to attack, and despite climbing above his marker with a prodigious leap, Haaland was denied by a great Jose Sa save.
Later in the first half, Rodri also floated a looping cross towards the far post, where Haaland is so often an easy target to find.
From a standing jump he rose emphatically before planting a firm header into the far corner.
The leap of @ErlingHaaland! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9OuZ6FfwGV
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 4, 2024
Fulham must work overtime to stop City from having the time and space to pick Haaland out with these types of crosses.
Most centre-backs cannot cope with his physicality in these situations.
Spot on
Haaland bagged a hat-trick against Fulham earlier on this season in a 5-1 home win, so they will know all about the damage he can cause.
In fact, in all three appearances against the Cottagers, Haaland has scored from the penalty spot too.
When put under pressure, Fulham must be careful not to make errors inside their own box.
If they do concede a penalty, it will be interesting to see if Haaland mixes up his choice of shot, as his last five Premier League spot-kicks have all been aimed in the exact same place.
Haaland’s last five penalties
Fulham should take heart from impressive home wins against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this season, but it will exceptionally tough against a City side who are unbeaten in their last 20 league matches.
Pep Guardiola’s side have scored 24 goals in their last six, and have never failed to net in 15 Premier League fixtures at Fulham.
If Fulham hope to avoid a 16th successive loss in all competitions against Man City, trying to stop Haaland will be a good place to start.