Doctor confirms Erling Haaland in 'so much pain' ahead of Liverpool

Erling Haaland is supposedly in 'so much pain' ahead of Manchester City vs Liverpool. The striker is now a serious doubt.

It was reported earlier this week that Erling Haaland had and ankle injury. He picked it up playing for Norway against the Faroe Islands - and that was a real problem for Manchester City.

The champions host Liverpool in one week's time and have injury issues mounting. Kevin De Bruyne is already a long-term absentee for Pep Guardiola. The last thing he needs is for Haaland to be out, too.

City possibly would have hoped that Haaland would be fit to play for Norway against Scotland. That would have been confirmation that he's fine, after all, but it won't be happening.

Per Fabrizio Romano, Norway's team doctor Ola Sand confirms that Haaland will miss that game. While the injury is 'not serious', it is a problem.

“He is in so much pain and somewhat restricted function that the Scotland game unfortunately comes a little too early,” says Sand.

This could massively affect City vs Liverpool. The other side of it is that if Haaland recovers in time, he's essentially just had an extra bit of rest over the international break.

It's one that remains a little unclear for now, then, but the chance is still there that the Reds face a weakened City side at the Etihad. Rodri is another who sat out an international fixture this week and while that's reportedly not serious either, he'll be a small doubt for Saturday.

Haaland, though, is the big name here and the one who could seriously disrupt City's plans. After all, they've gotten used to playing without Rodri over the last few weeks.

Perhaps the Norwegian recovers quickly and simply needed the Scotland game off. Perhaps, though, he won't be at his best or even unavailable to face Liverpool. And that could make the Reds favourites.