Erling Haaland couldn’t hide his delight while watching Manchester City hammer Liverpool 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium despite being sidelined for the clash.
The 22-year-old Norwegian was a strong doubt for Saturday’s Premier League fixture after withdrawing from international qualifiers with a groin problem but he was only ruled out in the hours building up to kick-off after failing a fitness test.
Instead, he watched the game from a box inside City’s home ground, where he could be seen bouncing around in celebration as his side ran riot over the Reds.
Haaland has scored 42 goals across all competitions this season, breaking records with his ability to find the net.
On Friday, Man City boss Pep Guardiola told reporters that after speaking to Haaland, he ‘feels good’, but the matter of selection would be postponed until the last moment.
Erling Haaland celebrates Manchester City scoring in their 4-1 victory over Liverpool
The striker was ruled out of the fixture having not recovered from a groin problem
Haaland watched on with a gloomy expression in the early stages from the executive seats
It followed reports that the striker would be given one final training session to prove his fitness ahead of the Liverpool match.
It’s clear that the last-minute evaluation left Guardiola no choice but to leave Haaland out of the north-west clash, as an 11 was named without the star. Bernardo Silva was also absent, while Phil Foden’s issue sounds like a long-term problem.
Guardiola spoke to BT Sport ahead of the game. On the subject of Erling Haaland, he said: ‘He is not fit. He doesn’t feel proper. It is not a big issue but today he was not right.’
Guardiola added: ‘Bernardo Silva is not fully ready to play today, Haaland did not feel well after the Burnley match and Foden will undergo surgery. Injuries happen all season.’
Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez were named up front with Jack Grealish, and the champions made sure to show they were not overly reliant on Haaland with a devastating attacking display.
Mohamed Salah fired the Reds in front to shock the home side before Julian Alvarez equalised before half-time.
Erling Haaland was not involved in Man City’s game against Liverpool at the Etihad
Pep Guardiola had previously told reporters Haaland ‘feels good’ despite a groin problem
Manchester City begin a task of catching up an eight-point deficit to league leaders Arsenal
However, the home side ran riot after the break with Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish all on target in the 4-1 win.
Manchester City versus Liverpool has turned into an intense rivalry over recent seasons, with both teams usually fighting for the top spot of the Premier League. Liverpool won the 2019-20 season, but Man City have won the other four of the last five top-flight campaigns.
It was a dreadful start of an important week for Liverpool, with games against Chelsea on Tuesday and Arsenal on Easter Sunday, as they try to save their season having been eliminated from all other competitions.
On Friday, it was confirmed that Nike had re-signed Haaland for a lucrative boot deal, with the American sports giant saying he will leave ‘his stamp on the future of the game’.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
