Erling Haaland looks set to move from Dortmund to Man City, it will take a whole new landscape between the rivalry between City and Liverpool
According to numerous reports across Europe, including from Sky Germany, The Athletic, and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Erling Haaland’s anticipated transfer to Manchester City is nearing fast.
The 21-year-old burst onto the scene with RB Salzburg in 2019. But since his move to Borussia Dortmund striker has been one of the most prolific goal scorers in Europe. His two-and-a-half-year spell in Germany has seen Haaland taking a step further and scoring at will.
The Norwegian is considered one of the best young players in the world. So far he has registered a spectacular 85 goals from 88 matches and also won one DFB-Pokal.
Already City are closing in on this year’s Premier League title, despite that lack of number nine. Moreover, the statement signing and a clear boost to City’s hopes of seeing off the challenge of Liverpool next season.
How will Liverpool and Man City rivalry shape up, after Erling Haaland signing by City?
Man City bounced back well from the Madrid setback, to thrash Newcastle 5-0 over the weekend. The win over the toons and Liverpool’s draw against Spurs give them the three-point lead in the title race.
If Guardiola’s men become English champions ahead of the Reds without a striker this season, imagine how strong their challenge will be next year with the goal-hungry Haaland leading the line.
A big challenge lies ahead for Jurgen Klopp who recently signed a new contract and extended his stay at Merseyside. The German needs to build upon this year’s Quadruple attempt.
Liverpool and Manchester City rivalry
Haaland’s free-scoring chart is ridiculously good, but the Norwegian hasn’t been able to topple Robert Lewandowski in the Bundesliga. In Current times Liverpool enjoys the biggest challenge from Man City in the English top-flight. Therefore, it is expected Haaland to directly compete against Mo Salah.
Things to look out for the 21-year old, which could be to Liverpool’s advantage
Haaland is a talent and there is no denying the fact, but there leaves the concern for the injuries he has suffered during his time in Germany. The 21-year-old’s absence ultimately contributed to Dortmund failing to keep the pace with Bayern in the Bundesliga title race.
Since joining BVB in January 2020, the striker has missed 28 matches through injury from eight separate lay-offs. In the current season alone he has been absent for 16 games through a mixture of muscle and hip issues. While it makes his return of 29 goals from 29 appearances even more impressive this season.
Given the physical nature of the English top-flight, it’s entirely possible such injury woes will persist too.
As a comparison, Salah has only missed three games through injury since joining the Reds in the summer of 2017. And one of them was because he tested positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Sadio Mane has missed just seven matches through injury since Haaland joined Dortmund. Like Salah, one of them was because of testing positive for Covid-19.
Also, Diogo Jota has missed 24 matches since moving to Anfield in the summer of 2020. However, in across three separate lay-offs, 19 of those came during a three-month lay-off with a knee injury.
As for Luis Diaz, injury is yet to rule him out for the Reds, with him missing six matches during his two and a half years with Porto and two of them being because of Covid-19.
Only Roberto Firmino has admittedly endured a torrid time through injury this season, missing 27 games to date as a result of hamstring injuries, a foot injury, and Covid-19.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert sees the star’s arrival at Man City contradictorily and warned City that signing might disrupt them.
The ex-England international Lambert suggests Haaland may not be an instant fit in the fluid passing style of Man City.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Lambert says:
I think the way City play, I’m not too sure a big centre-forward will be good for them,
It might take them a while to get used to a new way of playing with them. I think it might disrupt them a little bit.
If one of these teams gets ahead early doors next season, it’s very hard these days for the other team to catch them. So, I think it could be a little advantage [for Liverpool].
But I think in a year’s time Man City are going to be unstoppable. Because he [Haaland] will be settled in and it’s just going to be unfair. It’s unfair that they’re bringing in these players every year, unbelievable players. But that Jurgen Klopp is not only able to keep up with them (City) but get the better of them many times is unbelievable.
To be honest, Lambert has got a point here, it’s never easy to get into Premier League, and moreover straightforward into Pep’s system.
The availability of his attacking stars remains impeccable next season for Klopp. With the progress the team has shown having a near fully-fit squad for half of the current campaign, Liverpool should be able to compete again with Man City.
The Reds should set their sight on taking advantage early in the season. Meanwhile, players like Darwin Nunez and Aurelin Tchouameni who are strongly linked with the Anfield club could prove to be effective in the title surge.
