Erling Haaland is injured away at Manchester City against Liverpool this afternoon – with the 42-goal Norwegian failing a late fitness test to overcome a groin problem.
- Erling Haaland is not playing for Manchester City against Liverpool this afternoon
- The Norwegian was in doubt about the match after missing the international break
- Haaland has scored 42 goals in all competitions this season, but he has been plagued by a groin problem
Erling Haaland did not appear in today’s match for Manchester City against Liverpool.
The 22-year-old Norwegian was in doubt for Saturday’s game, after he pulled out of the international qualifiers with a groin problem.
Haaland has scored 42 goals in all competitions this season, breaking records for his ability to find the net.
On Friday, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola told reporters that after talking to Haaland, he “feels good”, but the question of selection will be postponed until the last minute.
This followed reports that the forward would have one last training session to prove his fitness ahead of the Liverpool game.
Erling Haaland does not feature in Manchester City’s match against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon
Pep Guardiola had earlier told reporters that Haaland was feeling good despite a problem with his thigh
A last-minute assessment clearly left Guardiola no choice but to leave Haaland out of the North-West clash, with the 11 named without the star. Bernardo Silva is also absent from the squad, while Phil Foden’s issue appears to be a long-running problem.
Guardiola spoke to BT Sport before the match. On the subject of Erling Haaland, he said: “He’s not fit. He doesn’t feel fit. It’s not a big issue but he wasn’t right today.”
Guardiola added: “Bernardo Silva is not quite ready to play today, Haaland was not feeling well after the Burnley game and Foden will have surgery. Injuries happen all season.
Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez are named at the front with Jack Grealish.
Jurgen Klopp’s squad is reading like a projected line-up, with the Reds trying to secure one at Manchester City as the final stretch of the league season begins.
Manchester City vs Liverpool has turned into an intense rivalry over recent seasons, with the two teams usually vying for the top spot in the Premier League. Liverpool won the 2019-20 season, but Manchester City have won the other four of the last five league rounds.
Manchester City begins the task of compensating for its eight-point deficit against leaders Arsenal
But this time the situation is a little different, as Guardiola’s compatriots are trying to make up for his eight-point deficit against current leaders Arsenal.
Meanwhile, after a turbulent few months at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are now racing back to fourth, starting today’s match in sixth.
It’s the start of an important week for Liverpool, with matches against Chelsea on Tuesday and Arsenal on Easter Sunday, as they try to salvage their season after being eliminated from all other competitions.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that Nike had re-signed Haaland to a lucrative shoe deal, with the American sports giant saying it would leave its “seal on the future of the game.”
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