THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE XMAS!

Toure: Erling's so good he gives his opponents sleepless nights... and even scares his City coaches

- BY SIMON BAJKOWSKI

ERLING HAALAND has been backed to give more sleepless nights to Premier League defenders after 'scaring' his Manchester City coaches.

The towering No.9 broke Alan Shearer's longstanding Premier League record this month to become the quickest player to 100 goals and has his sights on more after netting at the Bernabeu in midweek.

Haaland has scored at an astonishing rate since he came to English football in 2022, and has not let up, with this season threatening to be his most prolific yet.

The Norway star has 15 league goals to his name after the first 15 games as he chases the Prem record of 36 that he set in his first campaign at the Etihad.

Today will be one of his toughest tests of the season, against a high-flying Crystal Palace side who have one of the topflight's meanest defences.

Oliver Glasner's Eagles shut Haaland out as they beat City in the FA Cup final back in May - though that day the striker did turn down an opportunity to take a penalty.