Erling Haaland took less than 4 minutes to score his first goal against Liverpool. At the age of just 19, the Norwegian striker was a reserve during RB Salzburg's trip to Anfield in the 2019 Champions League.
Commissioned by coach Jesse Marsch as the team was in the comeback period after falling three goals behind, Haaland quickly made his mark by helping Salzburg equalize 3-3.
It was perhaps one of the easiest goals of his career - a close-range tap-in in the 60th minute after an assist from Takumi Minamino, who at that time did not know he would wear the Liverpool shirt.
The away team's joy did not last long, when Mohamed Salah scored the winning goal to seal a 4-3 victory for The Kop just 9 minutes later. However, the first goal in England helped Haaland attract more attention from fans, opening the journey to become one of the best strikers in the world.
Ironically, that simple goal was a "mental feast" against a long-term "famine" - according to Haaland's strict standards - every time he faced Liverpool. In eight meetings with The Kop, the Norwegian striker has scored just three goals, his lowest tally against any opponent he has met at least eight times.
By comparison, Haaland has scored eight goals for Manchester United, five for Arsenal and four for both Chelsea and Tottenham. These four teams are among 35 opponents for whom Haaland has scored at least four goals in his career.
In that context, Liverpool - the team he scored just two goals in six games for for Man City, with just one goal in the Premier League - was clearly a rare nightmare in Haaland's goalscoring journey.
Last month, Haaland revealed his daily routine - a testament to his meticulous work to recover his fitness after matches and training sessions, to avoid injuries. That habit includes red light therapy, massage, ice baths, steaming, along with a diet with fresh fish, capsules and fresh milk.
And after scoring against his former club Borussia Dortmund in midweek, bringing his total goals to five in four Champions League games, Haaland has once again affirmed the importance of this process for his consistent and consistent form.
"To maintain sharpness, I need to stay calm, recover properly, actively treat and eat healthy. I connect when necessary on the pitch and relax as much as possible when I return home. The important thing is to stay energetic, stay motivated and do things that are good for the body and the mind," said the Norwegian striker.
The clash with Liverpool will open a pivotal week. More importantly, Haaland has the opportunity to help Man City narrow the gap with the leader Arsenal to 4 points, while pushing Liverpool out of the championship race. More than ever, the Norwegian striker is eager to break up a "class" called The Kop.
