Manchester City’s goal machine, Erling Haaland, is facing a rare period of turbulence. Despite leading the Premier League scoring charts, the Norwegian striker is approaching a staggering 600 minutes without finding the back of the net from open play.
The 596-Minute Drought
Since his clinical brace against West Ham on December 20th, Haaland’s scoring output has stalled. In 2026, his only contribution to the scoresheet was a penalty against Brighton. The numbers are jarring for a player of his caliber: 596 minutes have passed since his last goal from open play.
The drought continued during last Saturday’s Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. In a move that surprised many, Pep Guardiola substituted Haaland in the closing stages of the match, signaling a tactical shift as City struggled to break the deadlock against United.
A Pattern of “Second-Half Slumps”?
Data suggests this might not be a coincidence, but rather a recurring trend in Haaland’s career since joining Manchester City in 2022. Historically, his efficiency tends to dip slightly during the second half of the season:
- 2022/23 Season: 27 goals (Aug–Dec) vs. 25 goals (Jan–May).
- Current Season: 26 goals in 30 games, but only one since the turn of the year.
While these numbers would be a dream for any other striker, for Haaland, they represent a significant drop-off from his usual “cyborg” standards.
Still a Record-Breaker
Despite the current dry spell, Haaland’s overall impact remains historic. Last December, he became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, shattering the record previously held by Alan Shearer. Haaland reached the century mark in 13 fewer games than the Newcastle legend, who remains the league’s all-time top scorer with 260 goals.
City fans will be hoping the Norwegian finds his clinical edge soon, as the title race intensifies and the Champions League knockout stages loom on the horizon.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
