Erling Haaland faces injury scare ahead of Man City vs Liverpool

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkCoach Solbakken says Haaland has had a heavy workload after playing the full game in Norway’s first three Nation’s League fixtures [File: Octavio Passos/Getty Images]By APPublished On 6 Oct 20266 Oct 2026Norway coach Stale Solbakken has revealed that he had a “heart-to-heart conversation” with Erling Haaland regarding concerns about the striker’s heavy workload ahead of a Nations League loss to Portugal, in which the Manchester City star asked to be substituted.Haaland gestured to Norway’s bench that he needed to come off and was replaced in the 67th minute of the 2-1 defeat in Porto on Sunday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4‘Everyone knew’: Canada boss Marsch wants Man City relegated for breacheslist 2 of 4Ronaldo-less Portugal beat Norway 2-1 to reach Nations League quarterfinalslist 3 of 4‘Sham’: What will happen to Man City after Premier League’s guilty verdict?list 4 of 4Ramos fires holders Portugal to 2-1 Nations League win in Norwayend of listHe was seen limping on the field in advance of the substitution, raising concerns about his fitness before his return to City — a club under heavy scrutiny as the subject of a huge financial scandal in the Premier League.Norway’s Erling Haaland asks for substitution during the match against Portugal [AFP]Speaking after the Portugal match, Solbakken did not say Haaland had sustained an injury but talked about the heavy workload the striker had been facing after playing the full game in each of Norway’s first three Nations League fixtures — a win over Denmark and losses to Portugal and Wales.That came after a busy start to the English season with City, after reaching the World Cup quarterfinals with Norway over the summer.“He [Haaland] was tired against Wales. That’s why we had a heart-to-heart conversation yesterday. We went through the possible options,” Solbakken said in quotes carried in the Norwegian media.“He might have played the last 45 minutes against Portugal. That was a discussion. But he has very bad vibes and feelings about it … I am very pleased that he managed to pull out 60 good minutes.”Haaland did not score on Sunday or against Wales on Thursday — the two games Norway has played since the verdict by an independent commission on City’s financial case was published. He had scored in the first two games in this international break and is on a record 65 goals in 59 appearances for his country.Haaland is the only senior, out-and-out striker in City’s squad whose first match back after the internationals is at Liverpool on Sunday.“He plays pretty much everything on the club team,” Solbakken said.