Managers across European football must find it especially challenging to discover methods to limit Manchester City marksman Erling Haaland's influence against them.

However, Haaland's remarkably consistent goal tally indicates that more often than not, tactical plans come down like a deck of cards at the hands of a truly phenomenal striker.

There has been the odd game where the City number nine has been kept quiet but for that to be the case, even some of the best defences in the world have to be at their absolute best.

Ultimately, keeping the PS375,000-a-week man quiet for spells in a game cannot be considered a success if he eventually finds the back of the net.

As a result, it would be a case of falling into the trap of a false sense of security for any team or manager to assume at any point of a game that they have successfully managed to keep the 24-year-old at bay.

For instance, in Manchester City's 3-1 win against Arsenal, Haaland punished the hosts at the Emirates Stadium in the 82nd minute.

Lineker reveals opposition tactic Man City superstar must secretly relish After Jack Grealish's goal in the 72nd minute, Mikel Arteta's side still had enough time to score an equaliser.

But after the Norwegian international got on the end of Kevin De Bruyne's pass to add to his goal tally, the victory lay in the visitors' hands.

As a result, the star striker's predatory goalscoring instincts means his threat remains in place until the time he is on the pitch.

But like any number nine, the implementation of certain tactics must internally give the two-time Premier League winner the belief that he could have a field day.

Gary Lineker feels teams such as Brentford, who left plenty of space for Haaland to exploit in behind their defence is a ploy that he must enjoy coming up against.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said: "The one thing I would say about when you do play high against Manchester City is that [Erling] Haaland will lick his lips."

"Because with his power and pace, for him, he would probably not like it when teams put 10 men behind the ball because he's in the box, he doesn't get much of the ball and he's just hoping for scraps."

"But when they're high on the halfway line, he loves to make that run behind and he's almost unstoppable when he gets full steam."

Erling Haaland has made many teams suffer this season already Brentford, West Ham United and Ipswich Town have all suffered similar fates; leaving space in behind for Haaland to take advantage of and conceded goals to the in-form frontman.

As Gary Lineker claimed, the former Borussia Dortmund poster-boy's extraordinary pace and strength are factors that make him tailor-made for being a world-class outlet.

With that being the case, opposition managers find themselves in a bit of a pickle.

On one hand, several tacticians would like to push their teams high up the pitch to press City.

But doing so would be risking the wrath of Haaland.

As a result, a whole host of managers must feel as if their hands are tied when preparing their teams against the Leeds-born striker.