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Two goals in five second-half minutes had long since ended Saturday's 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 slow-burner 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 that he didn't have a 24th.

For a player in the fo

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