“If Haaland was playing for Liverpool right now, there’s no way he would score that amount of goals” – Jamie Carragher makes bold claim about Manchester City forward
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has made a big claim about Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. He feels that the Norwegian forward would have had a hard time scoring at such a high rate if he was playing for the Reds.
Both Liverpool and City made big-money signings in the number nine position in the recent summer transfer window. Haaland arrived from Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad (£51m), while Darwin Nunez left SL Benfica to become the Reds' new No. 27 (£85m).
The former has had an incredible start to life in England, scoring 20 goals and providing three assists in 13 games across competitions. He is finding the back of the net at a rate of more than 1.5 goals per game - a highly impressive figure.
Nunez, meanwhile, has registered four goals and one assist in 10 games across competitions for the Reds. According to Carragher, Haaland would have had a hard time matching his current scoring rate if he had been playing for the Merseysiders.
The former England international believes Haaland has the luxury of playing with some truly first-rate midfielders. He told the Sky Sports Football Podcast (h/t HITC):
Erling Haaland has already scored 20 goals in all competitions for Man City.
TWENTY. https://t.co/CO23TQWZdF
"Look at the goals Haaland has scored, they have the best passer of the ball we’ve ever seen in the Premier League and that helps when you have Haaland up front."
He added:
"If Haaland was playing for Liverpool right now, there’s no way he would score that amount of goals because he wouldn’t have that quality behind him and Liverpool aren’t playing as well."
The Merseyside outfit have a world-class midfielder in Thiago Alcantara, but the Spaniard has had his fair share of injury issues as a Red. Other players in their midfield don't quite match up to the talent manager Pep Guardiola possesses at the Etihad. City boast the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri, Bernardo SIlva amongst several other star midfielders in their squad.
Erling Haaland set for second Liverpool encounter as Manchester City player
Erling Haaland made his competitive debut as a Manchester City player in the FA Community Shield against Liverpool on July 30.
DARWIN NUNEZ WINS IT FOR LIVERPOOL! 🔥 https://t.co/wKeC1zkydK
As it stands, the Reds are the only club this season to have stopped Haaland from either scoring or assisting in a match. They ran out 3-1 winners, with Nunez getting on the scoresheet while Haaland missed a gilt-edged chance towards the end of the match.
However, he has found his feet now and is a bigger threat this time around. Moreover, the Reds are in the midst of a severe injury crisis where they will be without Joel Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold for the game against City on Sunday (October 16).
Ibrahima Konate is also a doubt with a muscle injury, which could see Joe Gomez start alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Haaland faced Liverpool twice while playing for Salzburg, scoring once at Anfield.