Sports World

Update, October 7: The Times reports that Erling Haaland was suffering from fatigue rather than an injury when he came off against Portugal, and he is expected to be available for Sunday's game.

The Premier League returns this weekend with one of the biggest fixtures of the autumn, as Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. But with five days to go, both managers are anxiously waiting for news on key players who were hurt during the international break.

Haaland scare for City

City's biggest worry is Erling Haaland. The striker signalled to the bench during Norway's 2-1 Nations League defeat to Portugal on Sunday and, after hobbling for several minutes, was replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen in the 67th minute, according to GOAL. He walked off unaided.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken played down the concern. Speaking to NRK, he said the substitution looked completely harmless and appeared to be about fatigue rather than injury. The Associated Press reported that Solbakken had already spoken to Haaland about his heavy workload before the game, following a busy start to the season with City and a run to the World Cup quarter-finals with Norway in the summer.

Haaland has scored seven goals this season, and City face a demanding week, travelling to Anfield before hosting Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League the following Wednesday.

Jacquet joins Liverpool's list

Liverpool's problems have grown. The French Football Federation has confirmed that defender Jeremy Jacquet suffered a strain to his left hamstring, ruling him out of France's 4-1 win over Belgium on Monday. France coach Zinedine Zidane said afterwards that the 21-year-old was slightly injured, and Manchester United's Leny Yoro made his international debut in his place.

The setback is a cruel one for Jacquet, who had just earned his first senior caps for France and has started six of his seven appearances for Liverpool this season. He missed the second half of last season with a shoulder injury while at Rennes. Jacquet will now be assessed by Liverpool's medical staff, with no recovery timeframe given. Sports Mole suggests Ronald Araujo or Joe Gomez could partner Virgil van Dijk if he is not fit.

Isak and Gakpo still doubts

Jacquet's injury adds to the concerns over Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, who both left international duty last month. Isak withdrew from the Sweden squad after scoring against Romania, with Sweden head coach Graham Potter describing it as a small problem with his thigh. Isak scored the winner in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Bournemouth before the break.

Gakpo was forced off with an ankle injury during the Netherlands' win over Serbia and returned to Merseyside for assessment. Liverpool have not publicly given a timescale for his return.

Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley remain long-term absentees.

What is at stake

City arrive as Premier League leaders and have won every league game so far this season. They are doing so under a cloud, having been found guilty of serious breaches of the league's financial rules last week, a ruling the club is appealing.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are unbeaten under Andoni Iraola and will see Sunday as a chance to make a statement. With both sides sweating on influential players, the team news this week could have a big say in how this one plays out.

Photo: Yurificacion / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0