Manchester City's preparations for their upcoming Premier League match against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium face uncertainty as star striker Erling Haaland remains doubtful due to a knee injury. Haaland sustained the injury during City's emphatic 4-0 victory over Newcastle United last Saturday. His absence was felt during City's 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday, which resulted in their elimination from the Champions League at the last-16 stage.
Haaland, who has been instrumental for City this season with 27 goals across all competitions, will undergo a fitness test on Saturday to determine his readiness for the critical fixture against Liverpool. Manager Pep Guardiola expressed the importance of Haaland to the team, stating,
"It is better to have Erling on the pitch than not have him, obviously, and with Erling we are in the position we are right now." – Pep Guardiola
Despite Haaland's potential absence, City can take solace in the performance of new signing Omar Marmoush, who netted a hat-trick against Newcastle. This suggests that the club has strong attacking options even without their prolific striker. Meanwhile, City's defensive line faces challenges as well, with centre-back John Stones potentially facing a prolonged spell on the sidelines after suffering a thigh injury in the early minutes of the loss at the Bernabeu.
Stones has struggled with injuries throughout the season, making only 20 appearances so far. He may require surgery on his latest leg injury, raising further concerns for City's defensive stability. Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of Stones' situation, saying,
"He is injured, it is a difficult one and in the next hours or days we will know if he needs surgery or not." – Pep Guardiola
Guardiola remains uncertain about Haaland's availability for Sunday's clash against Liverpool. City plans to conduct a training session on Saturday to thoroughly assess Haaland's fitness before making a final decision on his participation. The club's supporters will undoubtedly be eager for positive news about their star striker's return.
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