JAMIE CARRAGHER believes Erling Haaland has a similar “fear factor” on defenders to what he himself had against Thierry Henry.
The Manchester City The striker took a third hat-trick in as many games as he fired his team on Sunday a 6-3 win over Man United.
2
2
That brought his tally to 14 goals in just eight appearances for the Cityzens – and Liverpool legend carragher believes he already lives rent-free in the minds of defenders.
Speaking on Sky Sports Monday Night Football about the 22-year-old, he said: “It feels like anything is possible with Haaland. It’s a derby and there aren’t many hat-tricks in this match.
“It felt like a contract for the Premier League, it’s for everyone, not just City. Normally we develop world-class players, they don’t come here. We have one now.
“We could see something here that we’ve never seen before in terms of numbers. The main thing that really stands out for me is the impact he has on defenders.
“All over the country they’re going to train and talk about him, how to stop him.
“There is no doubt. Mentally he is already in his head and he was at the weekend too.”
“When Henry first came on the scene or Cristiano Ronaldo, you would go to players and you would say ‘wow! Did you see that? Did you see that goal? How are you going to stop him?’
“I think mentally he’s already in people’s heads after eight games.”
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Carragher then said: “There was only one player in my career who influenced my mentality on a pitch and that was Thierry Henry.
“Thierry Henry from 2002 to 2004, when I played against him, I only thought about him and it affected my game.
“One of the most embarrassing things I’ve felt on a football pitch was the goal Liverpool conceded at Highbury, where Henry was on the run and I kind of fell and cringed.
“I’m so ashamed because that’s not me and it’s not my way of thinking, but it was the Thierry Henry effect.
“He makes sure defenders don’t think ‘can I stop him from playing well or stop him from scoring?’
“Defenders go into matches thinking ‘don’t embarrass me!’
‘I used to feel that about Thierry Henry too. If he scored or did well, as long as he didn’t embarrass me, I will openly admit it.
“And that’s the effect I think he’s already having on top defenders at this early stage of his Premier League career.”