Haaland’s Fitness Worries Before Liverpool Match
Erling Haaland missed Manchester City’s midweek game against Real Madrid, and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for Sunday’s showdown with Liverpool. The Norwegian striker has scored 27 goals this season but sat on the bench during the Champions League loss. He hurt his knee near the end of last Saturday’s win against Newcastle. At first, manager Pep Guardiola seemed relaxed about the injury. Haaland Faces Fitness Race.
But when Haaland didn’t start against Real Madrid, it raised questions. Guardiola said tests showed no major damage, but he admitted Haaland felt pain even walking up stairs. Now, there’s concern about whether he’ll be fit to play at the Etihad Stadium. This match is key for the Premier League title and the fight for a top-four spot.
City’s Title Hopes at Risk
Arsenal, in second place, is hoping City can slow down league leaders Liverpool. City needs to bounce back quickly after another tough outing in Europe.
Their dreams of overturning a 3-2 loss to Real Madrid took a hit when Kylian Mbappe scored a hat trick, leading to a 3-1 defeat. This loss meant City was out of the tournament, adding to the frustrations of a rocky season.
Ake Talks About City’s Challenges
Defender Nathan Ake spoke about the tough times City has faced. He mentioned that the team has had more struggles than usual. “It’s a new experience for everyone,” he said. “We didn’t handle things well here. We need to step it up in the next matches, especially against strong teams.”
Ake highlighted the importance of staying strong. He said City needs to believe they can get through tough situations. “We’ve done it before and can do it again,” he noted. “But we haven’t done it enough this season. All we can do is look ahead and be confident for the next home game.”
More Injury Issues for City
Along with Haaland, City is also worried about John Stones, who had to leave the match early in Madrid. His condition will be checked before the Liverpool match. This adds to Guardiola’s challenges as he gears up for a game that could change City’s season. Haaland Faces Fitness Race.
