Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is confident that top-scorer Erling Haaland can feature against Liverpool on Saturday in the summit clash between the English Premier League leaders and their direct rivals after being left out of the Norway squad during the international break. .

Holland returned to City for treatment on the ankle he injured during Norway’s 2–0 win over the Faroe Islands on 16 November.

Holland is top scorer in the Premier League this season with 13 goals, three behind Liverpool’s Egyptian Mohamed Salah.

Guardiola told reporters on Friday: “He trained (yesterday, Thursday) despite some pain. We hope he will train today and we’ll see. Like many clubs we have some problems. We’ll see in the training session and Saturday. It’s always the first plan.”…

City lead the league with 28 points from 12 matches, one point behind Liverpool, who are unbeaten in their last five league games under coach Jurgen Klopp.

Guardiola had some kind words for the Liverpool coach.

The Spanish coach said: “I think we are all friends. We know each other very well. Time passes, of course. Jurgen spent eight years at Liverpool, and of course he does not have the same players as at the beginning. He has rebuilt the team.

“Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool player) can play deep or wide. But the idea is mostly the same. They have always been our strongest rivals for some seasons… a great club and team. We look forward to this meeting.”

Only three points separate the top five teams in the intense title race.