Manchester City have granted Erling Haaland extra time off ahead of Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool at Anfield
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland has been given extra rest ahead of Man City's clash with Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been given additional rest ahead of his return to club action. The Norwegian forward was substituted during their 2-1 loss to Portugal on Sunday.
With City preparing to face Liverpool in the Premier League this Sunday, Stale Solbakken has confirmed that the 26-year-old has been granted extra time off before their crucial fixture. The Norway manager described Haaland as 'being spent' following his exertions during the international break.
Haaland was withdrawn with suspected muscle fatigue, with concerns over a serious injury eased. City will be hoping to have him available and in top form for their trip to Anfield in the first fixture since the independent commission's ruling that found the club guilty of almost all their charges was made public.
The Norway boss said: "It's not just him - there's a whole bunch leaving now. They've been given a few days off by their clubs so they've booked a private plane - like you and I can't afford.
"Erling was simply thoroughly spent. Some of my players have only had six or seven days of holiday. And you do not live off your physical condition in a normal job. Then it is straight into the start of the season, followed by a mini-tournament, so it is an extreme strain.
"He's in the group that carries the heaviest workload - precisely because his team plays in every tournament and he's the main man."
Haaland has been in blistering form in the top flight this campaign with five goals in as many matches. He has featured in every fixture for Enzo Maresca's side, netting twice in the 2-0 victory over FC Porto in the Champions League.
Erling Haaland
Haaland scored the two goals for Man City against FC Porto(Image: Getty Images)
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All attention will turn to Merseyside this weekend, with those connected to City anticipated to respond to questioning over the ruling on their alleged financial irregularities. An appeal has been submitted, but demands are mounting for substantial sanctions for their supposed violations.
The Premier League had accused them of 115 financial infringements across a nine-season span between 2009-10 and 2017-18, which City vehemently denied. However, a ruling from the independent commission following an extended legal battle determined the club guilty on 114 counts.
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England manager Thomas Tuchel said of the verdict: "If I say now it's not then I can just speak for myself, which would be totally narrow-minded. I think it is a distraction. It is.
"Let's say it is a subject. If it's a distraction, I don't know. It is of course a topic and we speak about it at dinner and at a table of eight or 12 people.
"We speak about it at breakfast. I know the Man City players get a lot of messages and phone calls and feedback about it."