“It’s always special to play against Liverpool.” Erling Haaland’s assessment of Sunday’s trip to Anfield lands with unusual weight this time.

Weeks on from the independent commission’s guilty verdict on more than 100 charges of breaching Premier League financial rules between 2009 and 2018, City travel to Merseyside with the title holders in appeal and a sanction menu that reportedly runs from heavy points deductions to expulsion from the division.

Speaking in a sit-down on the club’s own channels after returning from the international break, Haaland pushed back on any suggestion of a dressing room cracking under the pressure.

“We have to stay positive, look ahead and try to win football games.”

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He went further when he turned to the fans making the trip across to Anfield.

“No matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile. We have to stick together, and we have to spread the love to each other. So yeah, stick together, enjoy the ride and smile.”

‘I won there, drew there and lost’

The “special” line was aimed at the fixture itself, not the backdrop around it.

“It’s always special to play against Liverpool. I won there, drew there and lost. Every Premier League game is different and every Premier League game against Liverpool is special.”

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Haaland also made a point of attaching himself to the fans rather than hovering above the fight.

“I care a lot about City and the fans. I am a fan myself and I feel with them.”

City top, Liverpool sixth, Haaland a doubt

City arrive at Anfield top of the Premier League with 15 points from five games and are the only club in the division still unbeaten. Liverpool, under new head coach Andoni Iraola, sit sixth, six points back after two wins and three draws from their opening five fixtures.

The main team-news question is Haaland himself. The striker was substituted in the 67th minute of Norway’s 2-1 defeat to Portugal in the international window, with coach Stale Solbakken playing down injury concerns and confirming the switch was pre-planned. Haaland was granted a short break before reporting back to the Etihad Campus, with manager Enzo Maresca set to assess him before naming his side. Midfielder Phil Foden is suspended after his red card in the recent Manchester derby.

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Solbakken had described his captain as “thoroughly spent” after the Portugal game, pointing to the fact Haaland had only had “six or seven days of holiday” in the summer and plays “in every tournament” as City’s “main man.”

Kick-off at Anfield is at 4:30pm local time on Sunday.

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