High-flying Haaland soars to new heights

Norwegian continues City goal rush in breathtaking style

Erling Haaland backed away from his marker, set himself with his back to goal, and leapt high to deliver an acrobatic bicycle kick into the bottom corner.

Tap-ins, headers, majestic flying volleys. The Manchester City striker really can do anything.

Haaland took his tally of English Premier League goals in his first season with City to 30 with a double in a 4-1 victory at Southampton that kept the pressure on Arsenal in the title race on Saturday.

His first goal, a close-range header, couldn't have been easier. His second was breathtaking.

After meeting Jack Grealish's cross with that stunning volley, Haaland sat on the ground and celebrated with a Zen pose. Before long, he was laughing at the brilliance of that strike — his 44th in all competitions for City this season.

City could still have 18 more matches to play if it goes all the way in the FA Cup and Champions League. Fifty goals look inevitable for Haaland.

"We lived two incredible decades with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi," City manager Pep Guardiola said, "but (Haaland) is on that level."

City, meanwhile, is on one of those end-of-season winning runs that has become its trademark. Make that eight straight victories in all competitions — the team's best streak of the season — to really put the pressure on Arsenal, which took a five-point lead into its match at Liverpool on Sunday.

Grealish and Julian Alvarez scored City's other goals against Southampton.

"I would like to be in the position Arsenal is in," Guardiola said. "I would love that."