Akanji: Haaland Could Score 50 Goals This Season

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji believes Erling Haaland could score 50 goals this season.

The Norway international has scored 19 goals in 11 outings for the Citizens.

Alan Shearer and Andy Cole both reached 34 in a single campaign – and that has been the benchmark for over 25 years.

But asked if hotshot Haaland could hit a half century, City team-mate Akanji said: “If he stays healthy then I think there is nothing that can stop him, yeah.”

The Swiss international has been a team-mate of Haaland at club level for the past three years as the pair were together at Borussia Dortmund.

He knows how to tackle the 22-year-old – but is not prepared to give up any tips to his rivals ahead of today’s visit of struggling Southampton, who have lost 9-0 twice in Premier League history.

Haaland is on the hunt for a fourth successive Etihad hat-trick after trebles against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Akanji told talkSPORT: “I try to stop him in training and I know how I do it – but I hope other defenders can’t do it and he keeps scoring.

“So I’m not going to give them any help. We need a finisher and it really helps the team a lot.”

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