Erling Haaland could leave one of the greatest players to ever don the famous Liverpool shirt red-faced if he scores a hat-trick during Manchester City’s upcoming clash against Napoli.
Pep Guardiola described Haaland as a “special player” but more pertinently, he claimed that the star striker is even better currently than he was when City won the treble.
The 25-year-old is leading the goalscoring charts in the English top-flight with five goals to his name in four games, despite Manchester City sitting in eighth place in the Premier League table — highlighting the red-hot form he is in.
The Norwegian will be desperate to make his mark in the Champions League this campaign as his side were knocked out of the competition by Real Madrid in the play-off rounds.
The two-time Premier League winner will be hoping to steal the headlines on a night where Kevin De Bruyne is set to return to the Etihad Stadium.
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By doing so, Erling Haaland could make history in the Champions League and in the process, surpass a Reds legend in the tournament’s goalscoring charts.
Erling Haaland could go level with Mohamed Salah in Champions League goalscoring charts vs Napoli
First things first, Haaland is one goal away from reaching 50 goals in the competition and if he gets on the scoresheet against Napoli, he will become the quickest player in history to reach the milestone (49 games).
Furthermore, if the Leeds-born finisher bags a hat-trick, he could go level with Mohamed Salah in the goalscoring charts.
Mohamed Salah during Newcastle United v Liverpool.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Liverpool’s official website revealed Salah scored his 52nd goal in the Champions League as Arne Slot’s side won 3-2 against Atletico Madrid, Haaland could reach the figure in 24 fewer games (74 compared to 50) against Napoli.
How quickly Erling Haaland could leapfrog Cristiano Ronaldo as Champions League all-time top goalscorer
However, the decorated goalscorer will be hoping to leapfrog the competition’s all-time top goalscorer in Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has scored 141 goals in 187 games.
Judging by the rate Haaland has scored goals in the Champions League, he could surpass the Real Madrid legend’s record in 139 matches.