Erling Haaland has yet to showcase his goal-scoring prowess in the current Premier League season. The Man City star failed to forge a formidable threat on the attacking third despite his physical abilities in the field. On this note, a Liverpool icon emphasized that Virgil Van Dijk can prevent Haaland from capitalizing on scoring opportunities in this upcoming league fixture.
Manchester City is geared up to face Liverpool on Saturday at Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland participated in this fixture last season at Anfield but was unable to find the back of the net. Consequently, the Dortmund starlet aims to contribute to this game, rebounding from his lackluster performance in the recent international fixture. Glen Johnson, the ex-Liverpool defender, is convinced that Van Dijk holds the capability to block the Sky Blues sensation from scoring during the game. The 32-year-old defender has kept 96 clean sheets in the league, proving his defensive prowess over the years. Thus, the Norway forward might encounter difficulty overpowering Dijk to increase his goal tally this season.
Liverpool has a significant dominance over Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League, with 21 wins in 52 matches. Man City could only manage 12 victories over the years. Thus, Johnson stressed that the Reds must also monitor the Citizens’ other attacking stars to prevent conceding goals and secure the victory.
The England icon remarked in an interview with Squawka, “If anyone can stop Haaland, Van Dijk can. The issue is, with City it’s not just about him and there are goal threats everywhere. Liverpool has to be careful not just to build the whole game plan around Haaland, but in terms of the one-on-one battle between him and Van Dijk, it will be interesting to see how they take the game on.” Haaland scored 17 goals in 18 games across all competitions in this domestic season. However, he failed to emulate his influence for Norway in the recent Euro 2024 qualifier clash. The 24-year-old star also encountered a minor injury during the games, potentially impacting his readiness for the Liverpool tie.
Is the Norwegian star prepared to face Liverpool? ADVERTISEMENT The Man City forward will still be physically fit to field against Liverpool making a recovery. However, soccer fans expressed concerns about his performance in this crucial fixture of the league. Erling Haaland will be required to alter his goal-scoring fortunes, to cement Citizen’s position as the forerunners of the Premier League.
Erling Haaland missed Norway’s final qualifier game against Scotland due to a significant injury concern. The Man City forward experienced discomfort after sustaining an ankle injury against the Faroe Islands. Moreover, Haaland consistently struggled to make the scoreline in the previous matches, leading to Norway’s unsuccessful qualification for the 2024 Euro in Germany.
