With Liverpool travelling to Manchester City this coming Sunday, opposition striker Erling Haaland is in a fight to reach full fitness. He is one of five players Pep Guardiola may be without for what has quickly become a must-win fixture for the Reds.

On Wednesday Arne Slot's side had duties against Aston Villa brought forwards as a result of participation in next month's Carabao Cup final. Villa Park is a notoriously tough venue to go and they escaped with only a point, leaving an eight-point gap above Arsenal at the top having played an extra match.

Therefore victory at the Etihad Stadium, where Liverpool have not won since 2018, seems critical at this stage. Fortunately Man City are struggling themselves, and could even be without top scorer Haaland if he does not overcome his latest problem.

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In the closing stages of last weekend's win over Newcastle United he pulled up with a knee problem. This meant he was unable to come off the bench during the entirety of his team's Champions League elimination against Real Madrid last night.

Via our colleagues at MEN Sport, Guardiola explained: "I believe the images we have done are fine but it hurt when he walked, when he went down the stairs. Yesterday, this morning he told me that he wasn't ready, that he didn't feel well."

Now five goals behind Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot award, a Reds defence with only two clean sheets in their last nine outings will be glad not to face the Norwegian if it comes to it.

Adding to Man City's woes, defender John Stones lasted only eight minutes of Wednesday's match at the Santiago Bernabeu. The England international went down without contact but under enough pressure from Vinicius Jr to rush a pass. He seemingly had tears in his eyes and appears to be a major doubt for Sunday.

Midfield lynchpin Rodri has been absent since last September and has been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, so will definitely not be involved against Slot's men.

Youngster Oscar Bobb has also been recovering from a leg fracture sustained in the early stages of the season and the fifth of Man City's players who could miss out is Manuel Akanji. The defender suffered a hamstring issue earlier in the month.

The only solace Liverpool's next opponent could take on the injury front was Jack Grealish returning to the bench after a hamstring problem arose in the first leg against Real Madrid.