With Liverpool set to face Manchester City this Sunday, Erling Haaland is racing to regain full fitness.

The star striker is among five players Pep Guardiola could be missing for a crucial clash that has become a must-win for the Reds.

On Wednesday, Arne Slot’s side had their match against Aston Villa moved forward due to their upcoming Carabao Cup final. Villa Park is always a tough place to visit, and Liverpool managed only a draw, leaving them eight points behind Arsenal at the top, having played an extra game.

A victory at the Etihad Stadium—where Liverpool hasn’t won since 2018—now feels essential. Fortunately, City are dealing with their own struggles, and Haaland’s availability remains uncertain.

The Norwegian striker picked up a knee issue late in last weekend’s win over Newcastle United, preventing him from making an appearance in City’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.

Via our colleagues at MEN Sport, Guardiola explained: “I believe the images we have done are fine but it hurt when he walked, when he went down the stairs. Yesterday, this morning he told me that he wasn’t ready, that he didn’t feel well.”

Now trailing Mohamed Salah by five goals in the Golden Boot race, Erling Haaland’s potential absence would be a relief for a Liverpool defense that has managed just two clean sheets in their last nine games.

Adding to Manchester City’s concerns, John Stones lasted only eight minutes in Wednesday’s clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The England defender went down without contact while under pressure from Vinicius Jr and appeared emotional as he left the pitch, making him a major doubt for Sunday’s showdown.

Meanwhile, midfield anchor Rodri, sidelined since last September with an ACL injury, has been ruled out for the rest of the season and will play no part against Arne Slot’s side.

Youngster Oscar Bobb remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a leg fracture suffered early in the season, while Manuel Akanji is also a doubt after picking up a hamstring injury earlier this month.

The only positive news for Manchester City on the injury front is Jack Grealish’s return to the bench. The winger had been out since sustaining a hamstring issue in the first leg against Real Madrid but could now be in contention to feature against Liverpool.

Arsenal have emerged as unexpected contenders to sign a striker who is considering terminating his contract, with Mikel Arteta’s side reportedly positioning themselves to lure him to north London.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s squad depth continues to take a hit, as Takehiro Tomiyasu has been ruled out for the rest of the season following surgery on his right knee. He joins Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines, leaving Arteta with increasingly limited options.

Despite their injury setbacks, the Gunners remain in the race for the Premier League title, especially after Liverpool dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

A win against West Ham on Saturday would narrow the gap to five points, and Arteta is expected to stick with the same attacking setup that secured a dramatic 2-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

Mikel Merino was deployed as an emergency striker in a dramatic late push, scoring twice in the final ten minutes against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side. However, it remains uncertain whether Mikel Arteta will start the Spaniard up front against West Ham.

The showdown with the Hammers marks another pivotal moment in Arsenal’s pursuit of their first domestic league title in 21 years. The club’s lack of depth, especially in the attacking department, has sparked criticism of their recruitment strategy.

In January, Arsenal made a lowball offer for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, which was swiftly rejected. Despite Villa’s willingness to negotiate a £60 million fee, the Gunners ultimately decided against pushing for a deal (David Ornstein). As a result, any hopes of securing a top-tier striker will have to wait until the summer.

While Arteta recently hinted at the possibility of signing a free agent, the available options wouldn’t significantly bolster Arsenal’s attacking lineup. However, a surprising new target has emerged—former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.

Firmino, who was instrumental under Jürgen Klopp with 111 goals in 362 appearances for the Reds, could be set for an abrupt exit from Al-Ahli. According to a Spanish media source, the Brazilian is considering terminating his contract, and Arsenal are reportedly positioning themselves to bring him back to the Premier League.

The 33-year-old currently earns an eye-watering £302,000 per week in Saudi Arabia—wages that would make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player. A move to the Emirates would likely require him to accept a significant pay cut.

Despite registering 10 goals and five assists this season, Firmino was left out of Al-Ahli’s league squad in favor of new signing Galeno, casting doubt over his long-term future at the club.

Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has undergone knee surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Tomiyasu could even be sidelined for the start of the next campaign. The 26-year-old has been out of action since October and has now opted for surgery to address the ongoing issue.

This marks the second time Tomiyasu has required knee surgery since joining Arsenal from Bologna in 2021. He initially suffered the injury during pre-season, managing only a six-minute appearance against Southampton in October before a relapse forced him back to the sidelines.

Manager Mikel Arteta had expressed optimism last month about Tomiyasu’s potential return before the season’s end, but complications ultimately led to the decision to proceed with surgery.

The Japanese international (with 42 caps) confirmed the news via Instagram. “I’ve had surgery on my knee a few days ago and have already started my rehab to do what I love the most again,” he wrote.

“It has been the toughest period in my career for sure, and it carries on a bit more, but I won’t give up. Thank you for your support, and see you again.”

Tomiyasu’s latest setback adds to Arsenal’s growing injury woes, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Reiss Nelson (currently on loan at Fulham) also recently undergoing surgery. Meanwhile, Ben White and Bukayo Saka have both suffered injuries that sidelined them for over three months.

Arsenal secured Tomiyasu’s signing from Bologna for £20 million, beating arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur to his signature. He quickly established himself as a dependable figure in Mikel Arteta’s defense.

However, injuries have severely disrupted his time in North London. Since suffering his first major setback—a calf injury in his debut season—Tomiyasu has missed 82 games for club and country.

Even after recovering, he may need a loan move to regain match fitness, given Arsenal’s depth at full-back. The club will then face a decision on whether to keep him as a backup option or move him on permanently.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have already been told why Martin Zubimendi transfer must be completed

Arsenal’s hopes of signing Martin Zubimendi this summer continue to rise, with the club in a strong position to secure the highly-rated midfielder. The Spaniard is seen as the ideal addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad, particularly with Thomas Partey and Jorginho’s contracts set to expire at the end of the season.

While Zubimendi has been identified as the perfect replacement, opinions on him remain divided. Naturally, when a player is linked with a top club, fans analyze clips and statistics to gauge their potential impact. Numerically, he compares well to Partey, but some remain unconvinced about his fit for Arsenal.

The Real Sociedad star has drawn interest from multiple clubs, including Liverpool, who attempted to sign him last summer. However, he opted to stay with his boyhood club, showing deep loyalty to La Real.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente’s decision to bring Zubimendi on in the Euro 2024 final against England, following Rodri’s injury, speaks volumes. After the match, De la Fuente praised Zubimendi, stating that replacing the best player in the team with someone just a step below him was a blessing.

“Zubimendi has been playing [brilliant] games for a long time; if Rodri is the best player, then Zubimendi is the second best in this position,” De la Fuente said. “He’s got experience under his belt, he oozes security through every pore of his skin.

“Martin doesn’t get nervous… he’s a very mature player, so calm… Zubi is a sure bet, who never fails.”

Zubimendi could also benefit from a potential reunion with former teammate Mikel Merino. Spanish football expert and journalist Graham Hunter highlighted their connection while speaking to The Highbury Squad.

“In the case of Mikel and Martin, they are friends. They are friendly, they are close, so will he be asking his ex-teammate lots of information? Without question.

“I’ve interviewed the two of them together, I’ve seen them interacting together, slight age difference but not that much. Similar aspects, and ideas, Merino is slightly more outgoing if you look at what he’s done with his life, where he’s been willing to experiment.

“And because he had goals, things that shimmer are usually attractive to jackdaws, and people have taken longer to see Zubimendi’s qualities.”

Ultimately, whether this move proves to be the right one will only become clear if it happens. Until then, speculation continues, but those familiar with Zubimendi speak highly of his abilities.