‘A few problems’ – Pep Guardiola issues major Manchester City injury update ahead of Liverpool clash

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on thҽ fitness of Erling Haaland and eight players ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Thҽ Norway international was withdrawn from international competition ahead of last weekend after picking up an ankle issue during a friendly against Faroe Islands.

Haaland missed Norway’s final European Championship qualifier against Scotland on Sunday, but his domestic manager eased concerns about his availability on Saturday in his press conference before thҽ crunch clash.

Guardiola confirmed he hopes to be able to call on him. He said: “He’s trained with niggles yesterday, hopefully he can train today and we will see,” Guardiola said.

Guardiola also provided an update on thҽ fitness of his squad overall, saying: “We have a few problems, thҽ same as many clubs.”

“We will see in thҽ training session and we will see tomorrow. At 6pm I will know for sure which players I will have tomorrow. Always it’s plan A.”

When asked if he was planning a Plan A side and a Plan B side, Guardiola quipped: ‘Always (it) is Plan A.’

Thҽ Catalan manager was bristling with anticipation ahead of thҽ early clash at thҽ Etihad on Saturday as he discussed how Liverpool had become thҽ club’s ‘best rivals’ due to thҽ rivalry built up between himself and Jurgen Klopp.

Both managers have now served significant tenures – by Premier League standards – at thҽ helm of thҽir respective clubs, and Guardiola stressed that facing his German counterpoint over thҽ years had made him ‘a better manager’.

‘Absolutely (he has improved me). Absolutely, he helps me reflect – absolutely,’ Guardiola said, adding that whenever his sides’ had faced Klopp’s teams, thҽy had ‘always (been) attractive games’.