Manchester City without Haaland have no 'wow' factor – Liverpool legend

Haaland has been ruled out of the game against Liverpool

Manchester City without Haaland have no 'wow' factor – Liverpool legend

Izuchukwu Akawor 12:14 - 01.04.2023

Erling Haaland will miss the Premier League blockbuster between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad.

Liverpool legend Michael Owen believes Manchester City are a different side without super forward Erling Haaland.

Owen stated this after the team news was revealed ahead of the super clash at the Etihad against Liverpool.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ng/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Haaland was the conspicuous omission in the matchday squad as Pep Guardiola named Argentine youngster Julian Alvarez to lead the attack against the Reds.

Guardiola confirmed that the league’s top scorer was not fit enough and didn't feel proper for the game against Liverpool, with Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden also ruled out.

Manchester City vs Liverpool: Haaland out
Haaland is the top scorer in the Pl with 28 goals.

No wow factor in Manchester City

Following the team news, Liverpool legend Owen appeared happy to see that Haaland will miss the game against his former club.

Manchester City vs Liverpool: Michael Owen speaks on Haaland's absence
Michael Owen in Liverpool colours during his playing days.

According to the former Red, the defending champions lack that wow factor without their Norwegian superstar.

“Manchester City without Haaland don't have the wow factor,” Owen said as an analyst in the Supersports studio.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ng/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Haaland's form for City

The Norwegian superstar could prove to be a big blow for Guardiola and his Cityzens against rivals Liverpool.

Before the international break, Haaland was in blistering form as he helped City advance to the crucuial stages in the FA Cup and Champions League.

Erling Haaland leads Manchester City to FA Cup semis
Erling Haaland has been Manchester City's top man this season with 42 goals so far.

The 22-year-old netted a hat-trick in the 6-0 win over Burnley in the FA Cup quarterfinals just days after he scored five goals against RB Leipzig to inspire City to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Following his performances against Burnley and Champions League, he took his tally to a remarkable 42 goals in just 37 appearances for the Cityzens since he swapped Germany for the Premier League.

Tags: