Erling Haaland latest: Manchester City striker now in ‘serious doubt’ ahead of Liverpool clash

Manchester City are continuing to sweat over the availability of Erling Haaland for their Premier League showdown with Liverpool this weekend.

City return to club action following the international break knowing that anything other than three points against Jurgen Klopp’s side could have huge knock-on effects on their hopes of securing a third consecutive Premier League title.

Arsenal capitalised on Manchester City’s involvement in the FA Cup prior to the break by extending their lead at the top of the table to eight points, despite the reigning champions having a game in hand on their challengers.

However it is the victory over Burnley in the FA Cup quarter-finals that has left the club concerned over the fitness of Erling Haaland, after the Norwegian sustained a groin injury that forced him to withdraw from international commitments.

During the break, the 22 year-old is understood to have visited City’s partnership hospital in Barcelona for further assessment and treatment, before continuing his rehabilitation in Marbella alongside a member of the club’s medical staff.

Haaland returned to Manchester on Sunday evening, arriving at the city’s international airport via private jet as he looked to step up his rehabilitation ahead of the Premier League clash against Liverpool this weekend, while the club continued to conduct medical tests.

However, with very little time remaining until the showdown with Jurgen Klopp’s side at the weekend, City continue to sweat on the availability of their 42-goal striking sensation

According to Chris Wheeler of the Mail, Erling Haaland is now a ‘serious doubt’ for Manchester City against Liverpool having missed two training sessions since Pep Guardiola’s squad returned from their respective international commitments.

The player’s father, Alfie Haaland has already indicated that his son would be a huge doubt for the meeting this weekend, as he told reporters during the international break that the situation would be ‘touch and go’.

“Firstly, I’m not a doctor and secondly, I think it’s ‘touch and go’, yes,” Haaland senior responded. “You can’t just go two weeks without training and then jump right into a fight.

“There must be a progression there. They can gamble on it, but if he doesn’t get proper training with the team, then he won’t play… It is about how he responds to treatment in the next few days.

“He needs a lot of care and ‘knuckling’. There are many sprints and there is a lot to move.”

Manchester City will be hoping that Erling Haaland makes a swift and complete recovery as soon as possible, with their April fixture list leaving some to believe that it could very much decide their fate this campaign.

The heavyweight meeting with Liverpool is also accompanied by a UEFA Champions League quarter-final double-header against Bayern Munich, while an FA Cup semi-final clash against Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium precedes a Premier League showdown with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.