Erling Haaland injury: Pep Guardiola provides latest Man City update ahead of Liverpool showdown | OneFootball

Haaland was an unused substitute as Real Madrid beat City in midweek

Manchester City will make a late decision on Erling Haaland’s availability against Liverpool on Sunday.

Asked if Haaland will be fit to face the Reds, Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference on Friday: "Don't know yet. Tomorrow we will know it but I don't know.

“It's better to have Erling on the pitch but obviously, we don't have it but of course with Erling we are stronger."

There was a more concerning update on the fitness of John Stones, who is facing another spell on the sidelines.

The 30-year-old has started only six Premier League matches this season and has suffered another setback, after he was forced off after just eight minutes at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

Stones could now require surgery, as was the case for Manuel Akanji last week. Akanji is expected to miss up to ten weeks after undergoing surgery on a thigh injury.

"He's injured, a difficult one,” Guardiola said of Stones. “Next hours, days we'll know if he needs surgery or not.”

On whether Stones will be out for a long period, Guardiola added: “Yeah, like Manu Akanji.”

With City a long way off the pace in the title race and out of the Champions League, the primary focus for Guardiola’s side is now to secure a top-four finish.

The City boss insisted his players are still capable of returning to their “high level”, but admitted they have not been “stable” this season.

“We can compete with any team,” Guardiola said.

“We have two central defenders out for two to three months. The Premier League is massively important for us. In the Premier League we have played really good games.

"We are not stable but in other games such as against Newcastle, we have been at a high level. We will try to play a good game and the points that we need to stay up there to qualify [for the Champions League] next season."