ERLING'S RON THE RAMPAGE

City striker's relentless hunger reminds Ruben of Portuguese legend

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TWO goals in five second- half minutes had long since ended this game as a contest but a different kind of battle was waged in injury time.

It became a personal duel between Erling Haaland and the match ball, with Jordan Pickford playing a significant cameo.

Haaland had cracked open a slowburner of a game with two goals that owed a lot to the brilliance of his movement

And with seven minutes added on, he suddenly decided he wanted his 12th hat-trick for Manchester City.

Three times in as many minutes, he raced in behind the Everton defence. Twice, Pickford stopped him, and once, he forced him wide enough to make a shot impossible. Haaland would end the game with 23 goals in 13 matches this season but he was angry he didn't have a 24th.

For a player in the form of his life, it's a quirk he has now gone 13 months since last scoring a hat-trick for City.

On 10 occasions, he has got to two but that third just won't come.