Liverpool are set to escape the torture coming from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland after the 22-year-old’s father revealed that the striker is a doubt for the encounter on April 1.
National Daily understands that Haaland was forced to withdraw from Norway’s squad this week and is currently in Spain receiving treatment on a groin injury.
The former Borussia Dortmund forward has been in sublime form for City this season with 42 goals in 37 appearances so far, National Daily can confirm.
There is no doubt that City now face an anxious wait to see if their leading striker will be fit for when the Premier League resumes at the end of next week.
‘He would very much like to have played these two international matches but now it won’t be like that,’ Alfie Haaland told TV2.
‘He must prioritise his health, try to get his body back in place. Based on the assumptions, he is doing well, but he is very sad.
‘First and foremost, it is the national team that makes the decision, but they cooperate, of course. They must have as much knowledge as possible about this and of course ask the doctors and physios at Manchester City. Then they come up with something together.
‘Manchester City has a partnership with a hospital in Barcelona. He has been there for further checks and treatment. Now he has been here [in Marbella] for a couple of days with the physio from the club. So he gets good follow-up.’
When asked if his son will be fit for City’s clash with Liverpool on April 1, Alfie replied: ‘Firstly, I’m not a doctor and secondly, I think it’s ‘touch and go’, yes.
‘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.’