Pep Guardiola May Have Just Delivered Some Surprisingly Bad News to Liverpool About Sunday’s PL Clash
Manchester City present the next hurdle in Liverpool’s pursuit of the Premier League title. The Reds will head to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to take on the reigning champions, aiming to recover from their midweek setback against Aston Villa, where they dropped crucial points.
Lee Dixon has suggested that Liverpool are currently showing signs of struggle, and an away fixture against Man City is far from ideal for a team looking to regain momentum.
Cody Gakpo remains in contention for Liverpool after missing their last two matches, while City are dealing with injury concerns of their own.
Pep Guardiola saw John Stones pick up a knock against Real Madrid, adding to worries over Erling Haaland, who could also be unavailable for Sunday’s clash.
Erling Haaland’s Abysmal Record Against Liverpool
Haaland sustained a knock towards the end of Man City’s victory over Newcastle on Saturday, forcing him to miss the club’s trip to Madrid on Wednesday night.
The Norwegian forward informed Guardiola that he was not fit to play against Real Madrid, a decision the Spanish manager later explained to the press after the match.
“Probably, with the images (scans) we have done, it’s fine but he has discomfort walking, for example with stairs, and we spoke yesterday and this morning and he said he’s not ready, he doesn’t feel good,” the Man City boss said via Sky Sports.
Haaland is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, and at 24 years old, he would be a guaranteed starter in any top European team. However, his absence in Sunday’s match might not necessarily be an advantage for Liverpool.
The Norwegian has struggled against the Reds in recent encounters, with Liverpool successfully keeping him at bay. Even Haaland himself admitted in an interview with ESPN FC that he has found it difficult to win duels against Virgil van Dijk.
In the Premier League, Haaland has never been on the winning side against Liverpool. He has faced them four times in the competition and has secured just one victory across eight matches in all competitions.
Since joining Manchester City, the prolific forward has only managed to score twice against Liverpool. His sole Premier League goal against them came in last season’s 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
In Haaland’s absence, Omar Marmoush led the line against Real Madrid. The Egyptian forward possesses qualities that have troubled Liverpool in the past, making him a potential threat if he features on Sunday.
Man City Star Omar Marmoush Could Haunt Liverpool
Marmoush arrived at Manchester City in January after an impressive first half of the 2024/25 season with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The forward made a statement in the Premier League last weekend, announcing himself in style with a hat-trick against Newcastle.
Liverpool had shown interest in Marmoush before his move to Manchester but ultimately decided against making a formal approach for the 26-year-old.
That decision could prove costly on Sunday, as the Egyptian possesses the pace and transitional play that have been known to trouble Liverpool’s defence.
Guardiola’s tactical approach against the Premier League leaders remains uncertain, but deploying Marmoush alongside Savinho on the counter could be an effective strategy.
In other news, Luis Suarez Sends 16-word Message to Darwin Nunez After Liverpool Star’s Emotional Post
