Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has named Manchester City’s highest goal scorer Erling Haaland the best striker in the world at the moment.
Jurgen Klopp, in a pre-match conference on Friday, October 13, revealed the challenges Haaland will pose against Liverpool when Manchester City visits Anfield in a premier league clash on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool currently occupies 11th position in the league table with ten points. Out of 8 Premier League matches played so far, the Reds won just two matches, lost two, and drew four games, and now they will host in-form Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
Meanwhile, it’s the first time Liverpool will be up against Pep Guardiola’s City with Erling Haaland leading the line.
Jurgen Klopp hailed the City’s striker who already added 15 goals to his name in just nine Premier League matches this season.
Klopp described Haaland in Friday’s pre-match interview as ‘the best striker in the world’ and believes the Norwegian has found the perfect fit at his new club.
Klopp added: “Physically he sets new standards, the combination of being physical and technical with sensational awareness. His orientation on the pitch is exceptional.”
“He always knows where the decisive gaps are, he is barely ever offside and reads that well.
“For Erling, the thing is he combines so many things. You rarely have his finishing skills, but he moves smartly too. The package makes him special.’’
Erling Haaland joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund this summer in a transfer deal initially set for £51million.
Since he arrived at City, the Norwegian striker has been the backbone of Guardiola’s winning team, netting 15 times in 9 Premier League appearances.
Thanks to Haaland’s stunning goals, City now sits second in the league table with 23 points. Out of 9 Premier League matches played so far this season, Guardiola’s City won 7 and drew two games.
The German coach added: “Like always when you play against the best striker in the world, you [Liverpool’s defenders] have to make sure he doesn’t get too many balls”
“That is what you have to defend before you come to the challenge with himself, so that is what we will try to do.
But against City the problem is if you close Haaland down with too many players then you open up gaps for all the other world-class players, so that will not make life easier.
“It is a football problem but we will try and find solutions.”
Jurgen Klopp admitted that Haaland has so many attributes that make him a good striker. The Norwegian also has some of the best world-class footballers in his new club who set up goal chances and create the right moments for brilliant passes.
Klopp added: “Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, they are all good at that, so it makes him a perfect fit”
What’s next?
Manchester City will be up against Jurgen Klopp’s struggling team, Liverpool in a Premier League clash on Sunday, October 16, 2022. The much-anticipated fixture will kick off at 16:30. Erling Haaland joined Man City to earn a huge salary and the more he performs on the field, the better his chances at earning more in salary.
