‘Complicated’ for Haaland as Man City striker visits hospital over injury

Robin Bairner

• 24 Mar 2023 23:30 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes have been dealt a major blow with the news that Erling Haaland may not be fit to face Liverpool on 1 April.

Although Haaland was prolific with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga before moving to Man City in the summer for €60 million, few would have predicted the profound scoring impact he would have in his first season in England, in which he has shattered records.

Erling Haaland at Man City: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2022/23

The Norway international has already broken Manchester City’s single-season scoring mark and is on course to beat the Premier League record of 34, which was set in a 42-game season by Andy Cole of Newcastle in 1993/94 and matched a year later by Blackburn’s Alan Shearer.

City, though, trail Arsenal by eight points at the summit of the standings having played a game fewer ahead of a tricky match with Liverpool next up – and it appears that they may have to negotiate the game without their 22-year-old ace scorer, who has been receiving hospital treatment in Spain over a groin problem.

Premier League injuries: Doubts over Haaland

Will Haaland be fit to play Liverpool?

The player’s father, Alfie, has suggested that Haaland will not be ready for the game.

“Firstly, I’m not a doctor and secondly, I think it’s complicated, yes. You can’t just go two weeks without training and then jump right into a fight,” Haaland told Norway’s TV 2 Sport.

“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. There are many sprints and there is a lot to move.

“Manchester City has a partnership with a hospital in Barcelona. He has been there for further checks and treatment.

“Now, he is in Marbella for a couple of days with the physio from the club.”

Haaland’s injury record has prompted concern in the past, with the Norway star a regular in the treatment room with Dortmund.