Manchester City will assess Erling Haaland’s condition after today’s and tomorrow’s training sessions before making a final decision, said manager Pep Guardiola.
Although Haaland’s injury was initially downplayed as “nothing serious,” his absence could extend further. Guardiola could not confirm whether the Norwegian striker will be available for the upcoming clash against Liverpool.
Haaland picked up a knee injury late in last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Newcastle United. Despite leaving the pitch in the 88th minute with a smile, which reassured Guardiola, he was unable to feature in Wednesday’s Champions League playoff against Real Madrid. City, struggling for form, suffered a 3-1 defeat and were eliminated from the competition.
Just two days later, City face another crucial battle, this time against Liverpool in the Premier League. While their title hopes are long gone, securing a top-four spot remains vital. Having their top scorer back would be a huge boost.
However, in Friday’s press conference, Guardiola had no definitive update on Haaland, who has scored 19 league goals this season.
“I don’t know yet if Haaland will play against Liverpool. I’ll find out tomorrow. Maybe he will, I’m hopeful, but I’m not sure. We’ll assess him after today’s and tomorrow’s training sessions.”
Adding to City’s woes, they have lost John Stones for an extended period due to a thigh injury.
Manchester City currently sit fourth in the league table with 44 points from 13 wins and five draws, trailing leaders Liverpool by 17 points.
The two teams will face off at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday at 10:30 PM Bangladesh time.
