Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said Erling Haaland remains a doubt for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool after sitting out his side’s Champions League exit to Real Madrid.
Injuries and multiple match fixtures have been cited by Guardiola as playing a role
The Norwegian was named on the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu but did not make an appearance as City were outclassed in a 3-1 defeat on Wednesday to crash out 6-3 on aggregate.
Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference on Friday that his availability will be known in subsequent days.
The January signing of Omar Marmoush at least means Guardiola does have a back-up option should Haaland fail to recover in time to face the league leaders, but Guardiola could not hide the importance of his 27-goal star striker.
“It’s better to have Erling on the pitch than not,” he added. “Of course with Erling we are stronger.”
The battle for supremacy between Guardiola’s City and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool heralded a new era in the Premier League.
But Arne Slot has effortlessly succeeded Klopp, putting the Reds on track for the title in his first season in charge.
“For me it’s an exceptional team. I have said many times, they have been the biggest rival in my tenure here,” said Guardiola.
“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 hold an eight-point lead over Arsenal, who have a game in hand and are favourites to cut the gap to five when they host West Ham on Saturday.
After four consecutive title triumphs, City’s defence of their crown is realistically over as they are 17 points adrift of Liverpool in fourth.
John Stones is set for another couple of months on the sidelines after limping off with a thigh tear early on against Madrid, while Rodri and Manuel Akanji may also not play again this season.
Guardiola pointed to a brutal schedule as the cause and pointed out that Arsenal, Real Madrid and Tottenham are among other clubs battling a number of serious muscle injuries this season.
City’s season could stretch into mid-July due to their participation in the Club World Cup, with the next Premier League season starting barely a month later.
