West Ham can end Erling Haaland hoodoo as baffling stat proves Man City striker worries

For supporters of West Ham United, the name Erling Haaland and the dominance of Manchester City can instantly bring back painful memories. The Norwegian striker has repeatedly punished the Hammers, becoming one of the most feared opponents they have faced in the Premier League.

Historically, only a few players have scored more league goals against West Ham than Haaland. Legends like Wayne Rooney (14) and Michael Owen (13), along with Callum Wilson (12), sit above him.

Haaland himself already has 11 goals against the Hammers — and he has achieved that in just seven matches. He is also closing in on another milestone, needing only one more goal to reach 30 club goals for a seventh consecutive season.

With the two sides set to meet at the London Stadium, many West Ham fans may not feel particularly optimistic, especially with Haaland now back available for Pep Guardiola after recovering from injury.
However, there is at least one surprising statistic that could offer the home side a bit of hope.

Despite his reputation for relentless scoring, Haaland has been going through a rare dip in form. Across his last 17 appearances for Manchester City, he has managed just two goals from open play. For a striker known for extraordinary consistency since bursting onto the European stage with Red Bull Salzburg in 2018, such a run is highly unusual.

The Norwegian himself has acknowledged the issue. Speaking earlier this year, Haaland admitted he expects more from himself and knows improvement is needed. He emphasized that he must sharpen his finishing and keep pushing forward rather than making excuses.

Interestingly, the slump began shortly after Haaland scored twice against a team managed by Nuno Espírito Santo in December. Since then, he has played 17 matches in all competitions, scoring only two non-penalty goals — against Galatasaray and Fulham.

When penalties against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool FC are included, his total stands at four goals over nearly three months.

His struggles were particularly noticeable during Manchester City’s heavy defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Haaland had little impact on the game.

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jürgen Klinsmann even described the performance as “embarrassing” during an analysis on ESPN. Still, many observers point out that even elite strikers depend heavily on the chances created by their teammates.

Meanwhile, West Ham have been trying to inject energy into their own attack with players like Pablo Felipe and Valentín Castellanos, although goals have not come in abundance.

If the Hammers hope to extend Haaland’s scoring drought from open play, their main task will be cutting off the supply from Manchester City’s creative players.

That is easier said than done given the wealth of attacking options Guardiola has available, including talents such as Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, Savinho, Jérémy Doku and Bernardo Silva.

Even so, Haaland’s unusual dip in form may give West Ham something to cling to ahead of kickoff. Of course, given his reputation, that statistic could look very different by the time the final whistle blows.