Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has raised concerns regarding Erling Haaland’s fitness ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool this weekend. The Norwegian striker’s availability remains uncertain after he was left on the bench during City’s recent 3-1 loss to Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, a result that saw them eliminated in the Champions League’s newly introduced playoff round.
Haaland’s omission from the starting lineup against Madrid sparked speculation, as many expected him to play a key role in such a high-stakes fixture. However, Guardiola later clarified that the prolific forward is still dealing with lingering discomfort following an injury sustained in City’s recent Premier League victory over Newcastle United. His ongoing struggles with fitness have now put his participation against Liverpool in serious doubt.
### Guardiola Provides an Update on Haaland’s Fitness
Following their Champions League exit, Guardiola addressed Haaland’s condition in his post-match comments. He revealed that the striker attempted to train ahead of the Madrid game but continued to experience discomfort, even when performing basic movements such as walking or climbing stairs.
“Erling tried to train yesterday after the incident against Newcastle, but he still felt discomfort, even while walking or using stairs,” Guardiola explained. “We had discussions yesterday and this morning, and he told me he wasn’t ready.”
Acknowledging Haaland’s importance to the team, Guardiola admitted that while his absence is a setback, injuries are an inevitable part of the game.
“Of course, Erling is massively important for us, but these things happen. We’ve had to deal with similar situations throughout the season,” he added, emphasizing that City has had to adapt to key players being sidelined before.
### Can City Handle Liverpool Without Haaland?
Haaland’s absence would be a huge blow for City, as he remains one of the most prolific goal scorers in world football. With Liverpool currently in excellent form, City may struggle to maintain their dominance, particularly at the Etihad, where the Reds have found it difficult to win in recent years. This match presents a significant opportunity for Liverpool to capitalize on City’s recent struggles and secure a crucial victory.
Some critics have begun to question whether Guardiola’s squad has hit a plateau, especially given their inconsistent performances this season. However, if Haaland is unavailable, City might be forced to adopt a different attacking strategy, which could make them less predictable and harder for Liverpool to counter.
Despite this, many believe that City’s best chance of success in such a high-stakes game would come with Haaland leading the attack. With the match fast approaching, attention will now turn to Guardiola’s next update to see if his star striker can recover in time.
