06 February 2023 , 09:35
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Jamie Carragher believes Erling Haaland may have joined the wrong club in Manchester City - despite the Norway international scoring 31 goals this season.
Haaland, 22, drew a blank in City's 1-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday - their fourth Premier League loss of the campaign. The result leaves the champions second in the table - five points behind Mikel Arteta's Arsenal having played a game more.
Haaland's Premier League tally of 25 goals is more than the Golden Boot winners scored in each of the previous four seasons - and City still have 17 league fixtures left to play. Yet Carragher thinks the forward's record could be even better at another club.
"He may've actually picked the wrong club to actually get the best out of him," Carragher told Sky Sports. "You're laughing [Micah Richards], but we're not seeing everything of Erling Haaland, and Manchester City now, not because of Erling Haaland, we can say they're a different team, but they've scored exactly the same amount of goals.
"He's scored 25 Premier League goals, but Man City as a team have scored the same amount of goals, and they're conceding more, and it's far easier to counter attack them as well, so they're a different team, and a lesser team with Erling Haaland in the team."
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Although Haaland is enjoying himself in front of goal, City have struggled for results this season. They lost the Community Shield to Liverpool and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Southampton. They are still in the FA Cup and the Champions League.
Erling Haaland drew a blank against Tottenham (Getty Images)Do you agree with Jamie Carragher? Let us know in the comments below!
City are no longer regarded as the favourites for the Premier League title, such is their inconsistency. Although Pep Guardiola's side are enduring a tricky spell, they still have a good chance of catching Arsenal, as the two teams must play each other twice.
Carragher's fellow pundit Richards did not agree with his opinion - highlighting the amount of goals he has scored this season. The Liverpool legend replied: "I'm not criticising him.
"What I’m saying is him as a full package when we're talking about one of the best players in the world, I think he's that good he's scored 25 goals but we’re only seeing 60, 70 per cent of him because we're not seeing that power or blistering pace.
"Again, because of the way Manchester City play, but we've got to come back to the fact that no matter how many goals he scores as an individual - the team’s bigger than any individual - the team have scored the same amount of goals this season."
Carragher believes it is easier to attack against City when Haaland is in the team. The Sky Sports favourite continued: "The attack hasn't changed, the goals are still there. Haaland's been sensational, the goals that he's got for Manchester City.
"The problem that was massive today is how easy they are to counter attack and get at, and maybe that's because they've got a fella who plays right up front, he's not in the midfield position to stop a counter attack. It's far easier to get at Manchester City now, as we saw today, and that's the big problem."