Barry wants Haaland battle after Everton brace: ‘I’m a fan of him’
Thierno Barry has revealed that he studies Erling Haaland’s finishing as he sets his sights on challenging the Manchester City striker for the Premier League Golden Boot.
The 24-year-old scored twice and set up another as Everton came from behind to beat Coventry City 3-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Friday night. Barry now has 10 goals in 13 appearances across all competitions this season, already surpassing the eight he managed in 41 matches during his first campaign with the Blues.
Barry reveals admiration for Haaland
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Barry was asked about Haaland, who has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season.
“I’m very happy because I’m a fan of him,” Barry said. “I watch a lot of videos of him and try and do the things he does.”
The Frenchman also admitted he would love to remain in contention for the Premier League’s top scorer award.
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“If I can play with him until the end to get the Golden Boot, I will try.”
Barry has scored six league goals this season, three fewer than Haaland, although there is still a long way to go in the race for the award.
Barry’s hard work paying off
The striker endured a difficult first season at Everton, when missed chances often overshadowed his contribution. His improvement this term has been considerable, and he believes his summer work has made a difference.
“To be fair, sometimes it is difficult when you miss a lot of chances,” he told the BBC. “Your mind is sometimes bad, but I always work to do my best.”
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Against Coventry, Barry headed Everton level before putting them ahead four minutes later. He then provided the pass for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to seal the victory. David Moyes has also welcomed his progress, describing Barry as an increasingly important player after the comeback win.
The result lifted Everton to fifth in the Premier League ahead of the weekend’s remaining fixtures, with Barry now responsible for much of their recent attacking success.
Read our Everton 3-1 Coventry match report, player ratings and Moyes’ reaction to Barry’s performance.
For all the latest Everton news, reaction and analysis, visit our Everton news page.**
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Gary Gowers is a sports journalist and the editor of Read Everton, where he leads daily coverage of Everton news, transfers and analysis. He also writes about Manchester City for Read Man City and motorsport for Read Motorsport. A former accountant, he became a freelance writer in 2011 and has written for BBC Sport and Metro.
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