February 20th 2025.
As Manchester City prepares for their highly-anticipated Premier League clash against Liverpool this weekend, there is still uncertainty surrounding the availability of their star striker Erling Haaland. The Norwegian player suffered a knee injury during their victory over Newcastle United last Saturday and was replaced by Mateo Kovacic in the final minutes of the match. While he did train on Monday and was included in the squad that traveled to Madrid for their Champions League play-off against Real Madrid, he ultimately remained on the bench due to not being fully recovered.
Despite City holding a 3-2 lead from the first leg, the absence of Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne proved to be detrimental as they were unable to secure a win against Real Madrid. The Spanish team's star player Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick, leading to City's exit from the competition. Now, their focus shifts back to the Premier League as they face a crucial game against Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday.
Manager Pep Guardiola remains hopeful that Haaland will be fit to play this weekend, as he has been a key player for City this season with 27 goals in 35 appearances. However, the decision ultimately lies with the player and his fitness level. Guardiola explained to reporters after the game that Haaland had attempted to train the day before, but still experienced discomfort while walking or climbing stairs. As a result, he decided it was best for Haaland to rest and recover fully before returning to the pitch.
City's 17-point gap from the top spot in the Premier League may make a title win seem unlikely, but they are still fighting for a top-four finish and also remain in the FA Cup. Meanwhile, Liverpool's eight-point lead at the top of the league was slightly diminished after their 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Wednesday. This has given renewed hope to Arsenal, who can close the gap to five points if they defeat West Ham United on Saturday. Furthermore, if they can secure a win against their old manager Mikel Arteta's former team, City, on Sunday, they could potentially finish the weekend just five points behind Liverpool, with a game in hand.
In light of this, it is clear that Haaland's presence on the field will be crucial for City this weekend as they face their biggest challenge yet. The match could have a significant impact on both teams' chances in the Premier League, and City will be hoping for a positive outcome with Haaland leading their attack.
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