Erling Haaland injury blow for Manchester City before Liverpool

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland suffered an injury on international duty with Norway, casting doubt on his availability for the key Premier League match against Liverpool.

Erling Haaland has suffered an injury while on international duty, handing Manchester City a major concern before their trip to face Liverpool. The striker was substituted in the 67th minute of Norway's Nations League match against Portugal on Sunday night after signalling to the bench that he needed to come off.

He was replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen with the score level at 1-1 in Porto. Haaland was seen limping as he left the pitch, a worrying sight for a City side sitting top of the Premier League standings with a perfect record of five wins from five games. The club will now assess the extent of the issue ahead of Sunday's key fixtures at Anfield.

Impact on title challenge

Manager Enzo Maresca will be deeply concerned by the potential absence of his leading marksman. Haaland has been instrumental to City's flawless start, scoring five goals in his five league appearances this season, a key contribution reflected in his stats page. His form has been a primary reason the team has built a three-point lead at the summit. Losing him for a key clash against a top-six rival like Liverpool would be a significant setback, potentially disrupting the balance of a squad that has shown impressive depth.

City's next match is a huge test away to Liverpool, who currently sit sixth in the table. The team's impressive recent form, which includes a 5-3 victory over Sunderland in their last outing, will face its sternest examination yet. The club's medical staff will work over the coming days to determine if their star forward can feature against Jurgen Klopp's side on October 11.

Club's firm position

In a separate matter, the club has issued a strong response to recent off-field developments. Manchester City said: "The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe."

The immediate focus, however, is on Haaland's fitness. The Norwegian's potential unavailability adds another layer of intrigue to a match that could have major implications for the early-season title race. City will be hoping the issue is minor, but any significant absence would test the resources of their squad as they handle a packed schedule.