Erling Haaland fitness doubt adds to Man City's woes ahead of Liverpool clash

The prolific striker, who pulled up with a knee issue in last weekend's victory over Newcastle United, was absent from City's midweek Champions League exit against Real Madrid.

His availability remains uncertain, adding to Pep Guardiola's growing list of injury concerns, with up to five players potentially missing the fixture.

Haaland's absence would be a significant blow for City, given his status as their top scorer.

His potential unavailability comes at a challenging time, as the reigning champions look to keep pace in the title race.

"I believe the images we have done are fine but it hurt when he walked, when he went down the stairs. Yesterday, this morning he told me that he wasn't ready, that he didn't feel well," Guardiola said.

Liverpool, meanwhile, view this match as a must-win encounter, particularly after dropping points in a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa earlier this week.

That result, in a fixture rescheduled due to their upcoming Carabao Cup final, left them trailing league leaders Arsenal by eight points, though they have played one more game.

The match at the Etihad carries extra weight for Liverpool, who have not secured a victory at City's home ground since 2018.

With Arsenal setting the pace, Jurgen Klopp's side must seize the opportunity to close the gap in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested title race.  

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