During the international break, while Erling Haaland was playing for Norway, he took himself out in the second half against Portugal. He limped off the field, forcing every Manchester City fan to fear the club's superstar could miss a bit of time. No worries, according to Enzo Maresca, though: Haaland will be fine for the Liverpool match on Sunday.
The manager said in his Friday press conference, "(Haaland is) good. He's good. He went to Marbella (Spain), two-three days off, played golf, recovery, and ready for Anfield. He's good."
In other words, City fans can breathe a sigh of relief that what Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said about Haaland being more exhausted than injured was true. The striker might have been limping simply because he was so tired, and not because he had a new leg injury.
Manchester City's Erling Haaland should be fully fit against Liverpool at Anfield
Heading into Sunday's match against Liverpool, Man City is going to need all of its best players available. Obviously, the match would be a difficult one anyway, but this match will also be unlike any in the history of the Premier League. City, of course, has been found guilty of breaking more than 100 rules related to financial fair play, and then not assisting with the investigation into the matter.
Not only will Maresca and his players have to keep answering questions that they likely have no answers to about how they feel the appeal process is going (City is appealing the guilty verdict) and whether past titles should be stripped. Players just want to play.
But safety will be a concern, too. Had the first game after the international break, when the guilty verdict was announced, been at Etihad Stadium, the atmosphere might have been less tense. Instead, playing at Liverpool will add an extra layer of stress.
How well the players are focused will be obvious from the beginning of the match. The crowd certainly will not be on City's side, both at Anfield and likely at every other place that is home to a Premier League club, but that could further push the club toward banding together in a us-against-the world approach.
At least, Enzo Maresca and Manchester City know that Erling Haaland will be playing, in hopes that the club gets its sixth straight win to begin the 2026/27 campaign. If City loses, it won't be because the Norwegian striker wasn't able to play.
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