Pep Guardiola Provides Crucial Injury Update for Manchester City Ahead of Liverpool Match
Written by Dandozzy, February 21, 2025
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has raised concerns about Erling Haaland’s fitness ahead of the crucial Premier League match against Liverpool this weekend.
Haaland was an unused substitute during City’s 3-1 loss to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last night, which saw them exit the Champions League in the playoff round.
It came as a surprise that the Norwegian striker didn’t start, and Guardiola addressed the decision after the game. Haaland had left the field early in the win over Newcastle United last weekend, indicating he was still dealing with discomfort and wasn’t fit enough to feature in Madrid.
Guardiola shared details about Haaland’s condition after the game, stating: “Erling tried to train yesterday after his injury in the last minutes against Newcastle. The scans show it’s fine, but he still feels discomfort, for instance, when walking up stairs. We spoke yesterday and this morning, and he said he’s not ready and doesn’t feel good. He’s not far off, but not quite there. He trained a bit yesterday, but ultimately, he doesn’t feel right.”
He continued: “Erling is crucial for us, that’s obvious, but injuries are part of the season, and we’ve had our fair share this year. It’s just part of it.”
Can Manchester City Beat Liverpool Without Haaland?
Haaland, one of the top strikers in world football, is a huge asset for City, so it seems a daunting challenge for them to overcome an in-form Liverpool side without him.
Liverpool fans may feel this is one of their best chances to secure a win at the Etihad, especially considering City’s lack of confidence in what has been a tough season. Despite having great individual talent, it seems Guardiola’s squad may have reached its peak together.
Liverpool, on the other hand, appear much stronger at the moment, though an away game at City is never easy.
Some might argue that not having Haaland could give City a more unpredictable approach, but generally, most would prefer to have one of the world’s best finishers fit and ready for a game of this magnitude.
