Manchester City faces Liverpool without their top scorer Erling Haaland due to injury
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City will be without their star striker, Erling Haaland, for Sunday’s pivotal Premier League clash against Liverpool after the Norwegian was ruled out with a knee injury sustained during the previous week’s 4-0 win over Newcastle.
Haaland, who has been a standout player for City, scoring 27 goals across all competitions this season, was initially included as an unused substitute during City’s midweek Champions League exit to Real Madrid. His failure to recover properly from the injury he picked up against Newcastle has led to him missing out entirely on facing Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
City managed Pep Guardiola had indicated uncertainty about Haaland's fitness leading up to the match. On Friday, Guardiola stated, “I don’t know yet. Tomorrow we will know it, but I don’t know. It’s definitely not good news for us.” This cautious approach reflected the concerns within the squad as they prepared for the game.
With Haaland absent, Guardiola has turned to January signing Omar Marmoush, who previously opened his scoring account with a hat-trick against Newcastle. Marmoush will now be expected to lead the line against the formidable Liverpool defense.
City's latest match against Real Madrid ended with them bowing out of the Champions League with a 6-3 aggregate loss, increasing the stakes for their next domestic encounter against Liverpool, who are currently leading the league table. The absence of Haaland, who is tied for second place in league scoring with 19 goals this season, is seen as a significant blow to City as they look to bridge the gap to the top of the standings.
Guardiola remarked on the team's resilience, stating, “During these nine years, we played many seasons without really important players and survived. This season, we have had a lot of injuries and could not survive, but specific games we have to do it.” The manager’s philosophy speaks to the depth of his squad, which is being tested this season.
The match against Liverpool is particularly important as it could impact the title race. If Liverpool wins, they will extend their advantage over second-placed Arsenal to 11 points. Arne Slot’s Liverpool hasn't won at the Etihad since 2015, and this absence presents them with a rare opportunity to consolidate their position at the top of the table.
Not only is Haaland missed, but City is also managing injuries to key defenders, including John Stones, who is expected to be out for several months after sustaining his injury during the Champions League match. This situation has led Guardiola to make several changes to his starting lineup.
Despite the challenges, City remains hopeful. Kevin De Bruyne returns to the midfield, and alongside him, Rican Lewis and Nathan Ake join the lineup, replacing players like Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones.
Kickoff on Sunday promises to be electric as City looks to bounce back from their recent misfortunes, and Liverpool aims to secure their spot at the summit of the Premier League. Without Haaland, all eyes will be on the performance of his teammates to see if they can fill the void left by their top scorer.
Guardiola's decisions and strategies will inevitably be critiqued and analyzed, especially if the outcomes don't favor City. The match is not just another fixture; it’s about reclaiming pride and points, both of which are at stake as the season heads toward its climax.
The absence of Haaland could weigh heavily on the squad, but it also sets the stage for others to step up. Fans will anxiously await to see who among the players can seize the moment and perform under pressure.