Haaland a doubt for Man City’s match against Liverpool

MANCHESTER, England: Erling Haaland is a doubt for Manchester City’s match against Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday as the striker recovers from a groin injury. The 22-year-old Haaland withdrew from the Norway squad for their European Championship qualifiers against Spain and Georgia during the international break.

His father, Alf-Inge, was quoted by Norwegian TV saying his son had traveled to Barcelona for treatment. City manager Pep Guardiola said Friday he would make a decision on Haaland’s availability after the team’s final training session.

The team will definitely be without England winger Phil Foden, who underwent appendix surgery last weekend. Guardiola said doctors told him that Foden would be out for “two-to-three weeks.” Haaland’s fitness is more important, given he has scored 28 goals in the Premier League and 42 in all competitions during a prolific first season in English soccer.

City are second in the league, eight points behind Arsenal but with a game in hand. The team have a busy April, including home-and-away games against Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and an FA Cup semifinal match against Sheffield United, as it looks to remain in contention for three trophies.