Erling Haaland has spoken for the first time since an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules. In an interview published by the club on Thursday afternoon, the Norwegian urged players and supporters to stand together ahead of Sunday’s away match against Liverpool at Anfield, which kicks off at 5.30pm Norwegian time.
We have to stick together. We have to stand by each other, and we have to stay positive.
Erling Haaland
The interview is available on Manchester City’s website. Haaland does not discuss the verdict itself. He talks about unity, the supporters and his ties to England. “Whatever happens in life, we must always smile,” he said, adding that the team must look ahead and try to win football matches.
He also highlighted his family history. His father, Alf-Inge, trained at Carrington every day, and Erling spent his first four years living in England. “I care a lot about City, I have to say,” said the 26-year-old, who is in his fifth season at the club and has scored 169 goals in 205 appearances.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Haaland was originally due to face the press before the international against Portugal, but Ståle Solbakken withdrew him from media duties. “Naturally, we want him to focus and have the best possible conditions in which to prepare,” said the national team manager.
Tired after four internationals
Haaland has just played four Nations League matches in eleven days. He played the full 90 minutes against Denmark, Portugal and Wales and scored three goals, but in Porto on Sunday 4 October he signalled to the bench and was substituted after 67 minutes. Solbakken denied that he was injured, but, according to the AP news agency, spoke of a frank conversation with the striker about his workload. “He plays pretty much every minute for his club,” said Solbakken.
It is a point Enzo Maresca will note. Haaland is City’s only out-and-out centre-forward in the first-team squad, and after Anfield, Paris Saint-Germain await at the Etihad on Wednesday. Maresca will hold his pre-match press conference for the Liverpool game on Friday. International goal number 66, which we wrote about before the Wales match, is still to come: he has 65 goals in 59 international appearances.
Liverpool without their strikers
At Liverpool, the centre-forward position is the concern. Alexander Isak left Sweden’s squad with a thigh problem, while Cody Gakpo was substituted after 17 minutes against Serbia with an ankle injury. “Right now, they are both injured,” Andoni Iraola told beIN Sports, according to Sports Illustrated. Hugo Ekitiké has been out with an Achilles injury since April, and centre-back Jérémy Jacquet is also injured.
Lewis Koumas, normally a winger, has previously played as a number nine under Iraola. The Basque is unbeaten in his first seven matches as Liverpool manager, and the team have kept clean sheets in their last three league games, according to Sky Sports. Even so, they have drawn three of their five matches.
The league standings are clear: City have won all five matches and lead with 15 points, three ahead of Arsenal. Liverpool are sixth with nine points. This is City’s first match since the verdict was delivered.