Erling Haaland is fit to face Liverpool on Sunday, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday, easing fears over the striker's fitness after he was replaced in Norway's Nations League defeat to Portugal last weekend.
The 26-year-old, who had a couple of days off in Marbella, has played every minute of every Premier League game this season, scoring five goals in five appearances, plus two more in his sole Champions League outing.
Growing reliance on Haaland
Haaland's importance to City has perhaps never been greater since his arrival four years ago. With Omar Marmoush's departure to Tottenham, City lack an obvious number nine alternative. Marmoush offered a natural option through the middle last season, as did Julian Alvarez before him.
This season, City see Antoine Semenyo as their alternative through the middle, though the Ghanaian does not occupy that position often. That means the reliance on Haaland will grow, and with it the risk.
Fatigue warning from Norway boss
Haaland has played more matches than any other City player since the start of the 2024-25 campaign. According to Opta, he has racked up 133 appearances for club and country, the fourth most of any Premier League outfield player behind Morgan Rogers (141), Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk (136).
Norway boss Stale Solbakken said this week that the striker was showing signs of fatigue. "He was simply thoroughly spent," said Solbakken. "Some of my players have only had six or seven days of holiday. And you do not live off your physical condition in a normal job. Then it is straight into the start of the season, followed by a mini-tournament, so it is an extreme strain."
He added: "He's in the group that carries the heaviest workload — precisely because his team (City) plays in every tournament and he's the main man."
Upcoming fixtures
Haaland will lead the line at Anfield on Sunday and again against PSG in the Champions League in midweek, but if City are to challenge on all fronts this season, he cannot be pushed to breaking point.
