Manchester City’s aspirations for the Premier League title hit a snag as star striker Erling Haaland is sidelined for Thursday’s pivotal match against Brighton.
Haaland’s absence in City’s recent FA Cup semifinal victory over Chelsea was due to a lingering muscle injury sustained during the Champions League quarterfinal against Real Madrid. Despite his pivotal role as City’s top scorer with 20 Premier League goals this season, the Norwegian sensation remains unable to return, dampening City’s hopes as they seek to narrow the gap on league leaders Arsenal.
Manager Pep Guardiola assured that Haaland’s injury isn’t severe and anticipates his potential return for Sunday’s clash against Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, Guardiola received positive news regarding the fitness of English internationals Phil Foden and John Stones, both cleared to feature against Brighton following their own fitness concerns.
“Erling is not ready for tomorrow, the other two, they are ready,” Guardiola conveyed to reporters, indicating Haaland’s temporary unavailability for the upcoming match.
With the title race intensifying as the season draws to a close, Manchester City, currently positioned third in the standings, trails Arsenal by four points. However, with two games in hand and a fixture advantage over second-placed Liverpool, Guardiola’s squad remains within striking distance of the coveted top spot.
