Pep Guardiola hopeful of rapid Erling Haaland return after Manchester City striker missed Liverpool clash
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Updated 03/04/2023 at 09:08 GMT+1
Erling Haaland is feeling ‘much better’ after his recent injury but wasn’t ready to be risked against Liverpool, says Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Haaland suffered a groin problem before the international break and was left out of City’s squad for the crunch Premier League clash. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp explained why Darwin Nunez was benched after a recent knock.
Guardiola provides Haaland injury update after emphatic win over Liverpool
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City’s top scorer Erling Haaland is feeling ‘much better’ as he nears a return from injury, but the striker wasn’t ready to be risked against Liverpool.
The Norway international suffered a groin issue before the international break and was forced to withdraw from his country’s Euro 2024 qualifiers before being left out of Guardiola’s squad for Saturday’s crunch Premier League clash.
His absence in a high-stakes game was a big blow for City, as the 22-year-old has scored 28 goals in 26 Premier League games this season, but Guardiola offered assurances that he will be back on the pitch soon.
“He is much, much better, but not fully fit for today," Guardiola told BT Sport. "He didn’t feel good. With thought, we said ‘no risk’
“During the season you have these types of problems, with injuries. The only (thing) we can do is complain but we have never done it. So now the other players are going to play.”
Julian Alvarez started in Haaland’s place at the Etihad, but there are other problems in the City squad, with Phil Foden out following appendix surgery and Bernardo Silva struggling with illness.
“Bernardo has a stomach virus after his Portugal trip. (He was) training just yesterday. I spoke with him and he’s not able to play 90 minutes, he didn’t feel it,” Guardiola added.
City trail league leaders Arsenal by eight points and can’t afford many more slip-ups in the title race.
Arsenal, who face Leeds United later on Saturday, have played one game more than The Citizens.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp explained why he left striker Darwin Nunez on the bench, starting Diogo Jota up front in the Uruguayan’s place.
“Darwin had a little problem," Klopp told BT Sport. "He didn’t go on international (duty), there was a big discussion, because he had a cut on his foot and it was pretty uncomfortable.
“We thought it will be fine after a week but it wasn’t, so he couldn’t train for the first two days. But he’s now back in training, and that’s why we switched.”
The Reds' trips to the Etihad Stadium have often been decisive moments in the title race in recent years, but this term Klopp’s side have struggled and they are sixth in the standings, 27 points off top and seven points outside the top four.
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