Erling Haaland has suffered an injury scare just a week before Manchester City are due at Anfield. The striker limped off during Norway's 2-1 Nations League defeat to Portugal on Tuesday, casting immediate doubt over his availability for the title clash.

Haaland, 26, started the match and walked off unaided in the second half with the score level at 1-1. Portugal's Goncalo Ramos scored the winner eleven minutes later. The forward had started all four of Norway's Nations League fixtures in a congested ten-day period, scoring in games against Denmark and Portugal. He has seven goals in as many appearances for City this season.

Fitness race for Anfield

His potential absence would be a significant boost for Liverpool's defence. The Reds host the league leaders next Saturday, a fixture that already carries huge weight. Liverpool currently sit sixth in the Premier League with nine points from five games, six points behind a City side with a perfect record of 15 points. The last meeting between the sides was a painful 4-0 defeat for Liverpool at the Etihad in April. The full fixtures schedule shows the magnitude of this early-season test.

Haaland has been remarkably durable since joining City, missing only one match with a minor issue last season. His longest career layoff in the 2023-24 campaign was under two months. However, his workload has been intense, with a short summer break following Norway's run to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Off-field cloud over champions

The match comes as Manchester City face the fallout from a landmark Premier League ruling. An independent commission found the club guilty of 130 breaches of league rules between 2009 and 2018. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the decision detailed a pattern of serious misconduct.

"The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period," Masters said. "It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade."

The charges included 54 counts of failing to provide accurate financial information and 35 counts of failing to co-operate with investigations. The league stated City's actions artificially inflated revenues by £900 million to comply with spending limits. City have until Friday to appeal the verdict.

For Liverpool, the immediate focus is purely on the pitch. A victory against the champions, with or without Haaland, would be a major statement. Jürgen Klopp's side are in strong form, unbeaten in five with four wins, and will look to their own in-form attackers. Alexander Isak, the club's top scorer with four goals, netted the winner last time out against Bournemouth. Fans can check the latest squad and standings as the build-up intensifies. The decisive Premier League fixture kicks off at Anfield on October 11.

First reported at Daily Mail Sport

Manchester City are awaiting an update on Erling Haaland's fitness after he signalled to the bench before being substituted in the 67th minute of Norway's defeat, according to the club. The striker's potential absence could benefit Liverpool, who are in strong form with four wins from their last five games. The Reds, currently sixth, are six points behind the leaders and host City next Saturday.

Update, 2026-10-05: Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the club is awaiting a full assessment on Erling Haaland. "We will assess him in the coming days," Maresca said. Liverpool, unbeaten in five with four wins, host the leaders on Sunday. The Reds, sixth with nine points, are six points behind City.