Manchester City v Liverpool: Haaland, Gakpo battle for fitness ahead super Sunday clash

Manchester City and Liverpool are battling to get star forwards fit ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at Etihad.

Arne Slot is waiting on the fitness of Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo as the league leader visits Manchester City.

City is also assessing Erling Haaland fitness level ahead of what could be a league decider for both teams.

While Liverpool is looking to cement their position as league leader, City is hoping to secure a 4th place position in the Premier League.

Liverpool’s Gakpo has been absent from the Reds’ last two games after picking up a knock in the Merseyside derby at Everton.

“I hope [he’s available], I’m not 100 per cent sure. He hasn’t trained with the team yet. Maybe he does a bit today. I don’t know exactly. It will be a close call,” Slot said about his No.18’s availability, during his pre-match press conference.

Haaland, meanwhile, was an unused substitute in City’s Champions League defeat by Real Madrid on Wednesday night and will have his readiness for the Etihad Stadium clash checked.

Pep Guardiola told reporters on Friday: “[I] don’t know yet. Tomorrow we will know it. I don’t know yet.”

Read also: Haaland doubtful for Man City’s Premier League clash with Liverpool

Asked if he was hopeful over Haaland’s inclusion, Guardiola said: “Yeah, maybe. But I don’t know yet because he didn’t train today and [not] until tomorrow he will test, I guess. But I don’t know.

“It’s better to have Erling on the pitch. Everybody is responsible for the good things and bad things for the team but obviously with Erling we are better.”

Liverpool’s Conor Bradley is set to miss the fixture following his withdrawal in the second half at Aston Villa in midweek.

“I would be completely surprised if he’s involved in the Sunday game, or the Wednesday game against Newcastle. You can assume that’s not going to happen,” Slot said.

Joe Gomez is also ruled out having undergone surgery to fix a hamstring injury. “He’s out for a long time,” explained the Reds head coach. “He will be back maybe just before the end of the season.”

Defenders Manuel Akanji and John Stones are also not available for City, with the latter picking up a muscle problem in Madrid.

“He’s injured. [It’s] a difficult one,” Guardiola revealed. “[In] the next hours, days we’ll know if he needs surgery or not. It’s the front, his thigh.”

Also, long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb remain sidelined for the hosts.

On facing Slot and Liverpool, Guardiola said: “[The] consistency is similar to Jürgen [Klopp]. They deserve to be up there fighting with Arsenal for the title.

“[They are a] top team in many aspects. [They’ve] lost just one game in the Premier League. That’s why it is a good test for us.”