Erling Haaland excels in goal contributions, modest assists

Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker, has made a significant mark in the Premier League. He recently became the fastest player to achieve 100 goal involvements, accomplishing this in just 94 matches, with 84 goals and 16 assists. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by Alan Shearer, who had more assists but took 100 games to reach the same mark. Despite having fewer assists than other top players in Premier League history, Haaland is still a key provider on his team. Among Manchester City players, only Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have more assists since he joined the team. With three assists in 28 league games this season, there is room for improvement in his playmaking abilities. Haaland's role in the City team can vary. He sometimes drops back to help create opportunities, while at other times, he focuses on scoring. His abilities include strong physical presence and clever dribbling, which can open up the game for teammates. However, this season, he has been somewhat less involved than usual. He has produced notable assists, including a well-timed pass that led to a goal against Nottingham Forest and a setup for Ilkay Gundogan during his first City assist. Nevertheless, many of his teammates have missed the chances he created, which has affected his assist record this season. Haaland has an average of 2.25 shot-creating actions per game, aligning with his stats from previous seasons. His expected goals assisted (xAG) this season stands at 2.8, indicating that most of his assists are genuine contributions. While he is primarily known for his goal-scoring, his creative potential is an important aspect of his overall game.