Erling Haaland Injury Latest Leaves Manchester City Sweating Before Liverpool Clash

Manchester City have a problem, and it is a familiar one. Erling Haaland came off during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League defeat to Portugal and, even with attempts to calm the noise, the sight of him limping off does not disappear because someone says it is fine.

Haaland asked to be replaced after 67 minutes with the score still level. He gestured to the bench, came off for Jorgen Strand Larsen and was clearly uncomfortable as he left the pitch. He did not go straight down the tunnel, which matters, but so does the fact he could not finish the game.

Haaland injury concern remains live

Norway manager Stale Solbakken tried to reduce the drama afterwards. His explanation was practical rather than emotional. “Well, it wasn’t just with him; I spoke with about five or six players who have played a lot of minutes,” he said. “It’s important that they feel I’m listening to them, and we agreed that he would keep going until he felt he couldn’t contribute anymore. We were talking about the 60-minute mark or thereabouts.”

That is reasonable. It also does not settle anything. If Haaland was always due to play around an hour, fine. If he was limping and asking to come off because he felt something, City will want answers quickly.

Manchester City await medical assessment

City’s medical staff will now assess the striker before the return to Premier League action. Solbakken also explained that Strand Larsen had been put on alert in advance. “Jorgen [who replaced Haaland] knew this, so he was warming up – or rather, warming up extremely aggressively, so to speak – to avoid that stiff, cold feeling you get if you’re suddenly thrown into the game.

“I think [Haaland] ended up playing 65 minutes or something like that. But of course, I thought he played a very, very good match in the build-up phase. He terrorised their centre-backs, which allowed us to sustain longer spells of possession in the first half because both centre-backs were occupied.”

Liverpool clash sharpens focus

The timing is poor. Manchester City are due at Anfield on Sunday, October 11 to face Liverpool, and any doubt over Haaland’s fitness changes the conversation immediately. City can cope without many players. They cannot replace what Haaland gives them in the box, in transition and in how he pins defenders back.

For now, there is no diagnosis, only concern. That is enough.