Man City vs Liverpool expected teams with Erling Haaland facing late fitness test

Erling Haaland stayed on the bench for Manchester City’s Champions League exit in midweek and the striker faces a race against time to be fit to start at home to Liverpool

Liverpool’s weekend started perfectly when title rivals Arsenal slipped up against West Ham, and it could be about to get even better.

Arne Slot’s league leaders sit eight points clear of their closest rivals with 12 games left to go. Sunday’s trip to Manchester City is arguably the toughest of those on paper, but a lot could rest on the fitness of City’s top scorer Erling Haaland.

“Tomorrow I will know it, I don’t know yet,” City boss Pep Guardiola told reporters on Friday when asked about Haaland’s fitness. The Norwegian was forced off during last weekend’s Premier League victory over Newcastle, and was left on the bench on Wednesday as Guardiola’s team lost to Real Madrid to exit the Champions League.

“It is better to have Erling on the pitch than not have him, obviously,” the manager added. “But with Erling we are in the position that we are right now. Everybody is responsible for good and bad things in the team. But of course, with Erling we are stronger.”

Haaland has scored both times he has faced Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, but City will need to look for an alternative approach if he isn’t fit to start. Here, Mirror Football looks at how the two teams might line up on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester City

There have been occasions where Stefan Ortega has got the nod this season, but Ederson is firmly back as first choice these days. There are concerns in front of the Brazilian, though, with John Stones joining Manuel Akanji on the treatment table.

Who should start for Manchester City and Liverpool on Sunday? Have your say in the comments section

Those injuries are likely to see Nathan Ake in at centre-back in the only change to the four who started at the Bernabeu. Mid-seaspn addition Nico Gonzalez scored his first City goal in that game, and he’s expected to continue in midfield, though Kevin De Bruyne could replace Ilkay Gundogan.

If Haaland isn’t fit to start, one would expect Omar Marmoush to continue through the middle afte his hat-trick against Newcastle in the last league game. Jeremy Doku was an unused sub in midweek but may well return in place of Savinho, with Phil Foden on the other side of frontman Marmoush.

Liverpool

Liverpool’s impressive Champions League form meant they weren’t in midweek European action, but they did have a Wednesday game to contend with. They took a point against Aston Villa, and Arne Slot isn’t expected to change a great deal.

That means Alisson continuing in goal, behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson. Young right-back Conor Bradley has picked up minutes of late, but suffered an injury at Villa Park to join fellow defender Joe Gomez on the sidelines.

Luis Diaz impressed last weekend against Wolves before dropping to the bench on Wednesday, but is expected to return on Sunday. Curtis Jones is likely to make way, with Dominik Szoboszlai – who started in the front three at Villa Park – dropping back into midfield.

Manchester City: Ederson; Khusanov, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; De Bruyne, Nico, Silva; Foden, Marmoush, Doku.

Liverpool: Alisson: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota

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