OPINION
Erling Braut Haaland is one of the most in-form strikers in European football at the moment so it was only a matter of time before clubs from the Premier League would be linked with a move for Red Bull Salzburg’s Leeds-born striker.
According to Italian news outlet Calcio Mercato, Liverpool are one of the teams who are hot on the heels of the 19-year-old forward, who scored against the Reds at Anfield last week in the Champions League.
Haaland netted his 18th goal of the season in Salzburg’s 4-3 defeat on Merseyside just moments after he was introduced to the game from the bench.
Erling Braut Håland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SALZBURG HAVE EQUALISED ???
Look at the celebrations! pic.twitter.com/y3nGFkmxUD
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 2, 2019
What makes the teenager’s goalscoring record so remarkable is that he has hit the 18-mark having only made 11 appearances across all competitions, while also supplying five assists in the process too.
After Liverpool beat the Austrian champions, who signed Haaland from Molde in January, Peter Crouch was quick to heap praise on the young Norway international’s record in front of goal this season.
Speaking on BT Sport 3 after Liverpool’s win against Salzburg on Wednesday, October 2, Crouch said: “They had some really good attacking players.
“Haaland obviously coming on, the amount of goals he’s scored this season is ridiculous. He’s obviously bagged himself one at Anfield.”
Michael Owen has also been impressed by the predatory instincts shown by Haaland.
“He couldn’t miss but that’s what all good goalscorers do, they get into those types of areas,” said the former Liverpool and Manchester United striker.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, they are unsurprisingly not the only team keeping tabs on Haaland as Calcio Mercato claims that Juventus, Man United and Tottenham are also interested in the Norwegian striker.
However the fact that Haaland has now tasted what it is like to play – and score – at Anfield, there’s a good chance that Jurgen Klopp could find himself in pole position for the striker.
Football Critic shows that Haaland has averaged 5.2 shots per 90 minutes of game-time in the Austrian Bundesliga this season, where he has scored 11 of his 18 goals.
In comparison with Liverpool’s current squad, who like Salzburg are unbeaten and top of their domestic division, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino have both averaged 3.3 shots at goal per 90 minutes of league action before Sadio Mane follows up with 2.8 [WhoScored].
According to stats by Info Gol, although Haaland has only played two times in the Champions League group stages this season, he has had four shots at goal and scored on each occasion.
Every striker in the world should be praying to have a 100 per cent hit rate in Europe’s biggest competition and while it’s only been two matches, Haaland is quickly proving that he is someone that Anfield could go wild for if Klopp does sign him.
