Pep Guardiola addresses Alan Shearer's Erling Haaland comparisons to Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah

Pep Guardiola has responded to Alan Shearer's comments that Harry Kane would score just as many goals as Erling Haaland in the Manchester City team.

Haaland has enjoyed a remarkable start to life at City since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, scoring a massive 20 goals in just 12 games so far this season. The Norwegian sensation has seen the Blues finally replace Sergio Aguero after they failed to do so last year.

City attempted to sign Tottenham talisman Kane but were unsuccessful in the chase which left the door open for them to bring in Haaland 12 months later instead. However, Shearer believes that the England captain would enjoy just as much success in Guardiola's side.

ALSO READ: Man City give injury update ahead of Liverpool clash

"But if Harry was in this City team, he would be scoring as many goals as Erling has," the Premier League's record scorer wrote in The Athletic. "This is dreamland for any top forward. I’ve said it all along — a top goalscorer in this City team should score 40 goals. If Erling stays fit then he’ll get that and maybe even some more."

However, Guardiola says he isn't sure what would have happened if his club did manage to recruit Kane. "I don’t know," he said. "I don’t have the ability to know what would happen if Harry Kane was here. Alan was a striker maybe he knows better than me."

Guardiola was also quizzed on the differing forms of Haaland and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah ahead of the two teams meeting on Sunday. Though Salah bagged a quick-fire hat-trick against Rangers in midweek, he has struggled in the Premier League this season with only two strikes to his name. But Guardiola insists he remains a quality player.

"This type of players always score goals in