Erling Haaland has until 4pm TODAY to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday’s clash with Liverpool
BREAKING NEWS: Erling Haaland will be given one final training session to prove his fitness ahead of Man City’s clash with Liverpool as the Norwegian striker battles a groin injury picked up before the international break
- Erling Haaland stepped back from international duty after suffering groin injury
- The in-form striker may yet start against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium
- Guardiola had high praise for his opposite number in the face of a patchy season
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Pep Guardiola will give Erling Haaland every chance to prove his fitness before Manchester City face Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.
Haaland picked up a groin injury during the FA Cup victory over Burnley and was not deemed ready to feature for Norway over the international break.
The 22-year-old went to Barcelona for checks on the issue before undergoing rehabilitation work with sports therapist Mario Pafundi in Marbella.
Haaland returned to the North West earlier in the week and has been doing individual work. Guardiola will make a decision on his availability for Liverpool later today.
‘We’ll see today and the doctors – and especially the player – will decide,’ Guardiola said. ‘I spoke with him, he feels good. Life is risk in these stages, we have to take it.
Erling Haaland could be fit to start against Liverpool, Guardiola hinted on Friday
The City manager also shared updates on Phil Foden ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime clash
The England player (centre, with Haaland) had his appendix removed last Sunday
‘We have an incredible medical team, who control the players perfectly. We’ve mainly had the squad all ready but you can have a period with injuries.
‘In general I’m happy to arrive at the end of the season with the majority of the players available. Everyone has to be involved. We’ve scored a lot of goals this season and he has scored a lot.’
City are also without Phil Foden, who had surgery to remove his appendix while away with England.
‘The doctors tell me it’ll be two or three weeks. We’ll see how he develops after his surgery,’ Guardiola added.
The striker has been on barnstorming form for his club and will be a danger for Liverpool
Despite Liverpool’s inconsistency this season, Guardiola remains impressed by Jurgen Klopp
The defending Premier League champions are eight points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand – and Guardiola is refusing to take Liverpool lightly despite their struggles this term.
‘We know each other for many years,’ he said. ‘They remain an exceptional team. My opinion doesn’t change. They can beat everyone, like we can beat everyone.
‘Every club can have ups and downs. Winning the Champions League… nothing changes. This season we have another rival but Liverpool will always be a big rival.
‘We are fighting in all competitions That is awesome. That is so good. To sustain it for 11 moths is so difficult. We’re still there. In the Premier League there is a team that is far away from us in terms of points and we’ll see.’
