Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has admitted that Erling Haaland remains a doubt for Sunday’s crucial Premier League showdown against Liverpool.
The Norwegian striker was on the bench but did not feature in City’s 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, which saw them eliminated 6-3 on aggregate.
“Tomorrow we will know,” Guardiola stated in his pre-match press conference on Friday, indicating that Haaland’s availability remains uncertain.
While January signing Omar Marmoush provides a backup option, Guardiola acknowledged the impact of his prolific forward. “It’s better to have Erling on the pitch than not. Of course, with Erling, we are stronger,” he admitted.
City’s rivalry with Liverpool has defined an era in the Premier League, and though Jurgen Klopp has moved on, Arne Slot has seamlessly taken charge, keeping the Reds on course for the title.
“For me, it’s an exceptional team. I have said many times, they have been the biggest rival in my tenure here,” Guardiola remarked.
“Arsenal right now in the last years have been involved as well, but I could not expect differently that Liverpool (would) be in the position that they are.”
Liverpool currently sit eight points clear of Arsenal, who have a game in hand and could narrow the gap when they face West Ham on Saturday.
Meanwhile, City’s title defense appears to be over, as they trail the league leaders by 17 points in fourth place.
Injuries have played a significant role in City’s struggles this season. John Stones faces months on the sidelines after suffering a thigh tear against Madrid, while Rodri and Manuel Akanji could also miss the remainder of the campaign.
Guardiola pointed to a relentless schedule as a major factor, highlighting that other top clubs, including Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Tottenham, have also faced similar injury crises.
With City set to compete in the Club World Cup, their season could extend into mid-July, leaving little recovery time before the next Premier League campaign begins. Guardiola expressed concern about the physical toll on his squad.
“Of course, I’m concerned. So, next season, everybody will be fit? I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “More than 50 games, it’s too much for the players. It’s too much for the human being; the body cannot sustain without a medical issue.
“And we arrived at 65, 70 games and, at the end, look what happened. It’s not just Man City. It’s all the clubs.”
As City prepare to face Liverpool, Guardiola must navigate his squad’s injury struggles while hoping Haaland recovers in time to boost their chances against the league leaders.
