Will Dean’s record fall?

ONE man watching inside the Etihad would have understood how Erling Haaland felt as the Norwegian moved into the 40s for goals this season.

Former City striker Clive Allen — now working for overseas broadcasters — bagged 49 goals for Tottenham in all competitions during the 1986-87 season, although even that prolific record now looks under threat from Pep Guardiola’s unstoppable centre forward.

Haaland has not gone longer than three games without a goal all season and took some of the limelight off Vincent Kompany on his big return to the Etihad with his sixth hat-trick of an incredible debut season — and even Dixie Dean’s historic 60 goals in the 1920s doesn’t look completely out of reach.

Watching Kompany’s return was his former defensive partner Kolo Toure who spent four years with the Belgian at City until leaving to join Liverpool.

Toure was at the club when Kompany lifted the first of his two FA Cups.

26

REMARKABLY, 26 of the last 27 goals at the Etihad have been scored by Manchester City – the only exception was Ollie Watkins’ consolation for Aston Villa in a 3-1 defeat last month.