As first seasons in English football go, it is fair to say Erling Haaland's opening campaign will be a tough one to beat.
The Norwegian goal monster, who moved from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund last summer, has slashed his way through English defences like a hot knife through butter.
Haaland has set new standards in front of goal, setting records that probably only he will break in years to come.
His 36 goals in 35 Premier League games broke the record for most goals in a single season, previously held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer (both in 42-game campaigns).
No player has scored more goals in an English top-flight league season since Ron Davies found the net 37 times for Southampton in 1966/67.
Only Dixie Dean's 63 goals – for Everton in 1927/28 – beats Haaland's 52 across all competitions in a single season.
Those 52 goals means he has broken the record for most goals in one season in all competitions by a Premier League player, comfortably beating Mohamed Salah in 2017/18 and Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002/03 (both 44).
His four Premier League hat-tricks in a single season is more than any player bar Alan Shearer, who scored five for Blackburn Rovers in 1995/96.
The 22-year-old is the first player to score hat-tricks in three successive Premier League home games, and the first Manchester City player to score a Manchester derby hat-trick since 1970.
Unsurprisingly, he was named player of the season, by the Premier League and the Football Writers' Association – with the Professional Footballers' Association award inevitably arriving in the post as well … oh, and he also scooped the Premier League young player of the season gong. All in all, not a bad effort at all.
“It is unbelievable how many goals he has scored – so many important goals to help us win games,” said City manager Pep Guardiola after Haaland broke the Premier League record.
“He is a unique person, as a player but also the person is special.
“It is an incredible milestone. One day maybe he will break his record or someone else will, but they will have to score a lot of goals.”
In the gallery above, you can see how Haaland's record compared with the other Premier League top guns.
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
