![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2.83326216.jpg\")
Haaland started on the bench in the second leg of City\u2019s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle on Wednesday (Martin Rickett\/PA)<\/p>\nThe Norway international is going through an unusually quiet spell in front of goal, scoring just two in his last 12 appearances.<\/p>\n
That contrasts sharply with his form earlier in the campaign, which saw him net 25 times in his previous 23 games.<\/p>\n
Haaland started on the bench in the second leg of City\u2019s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle on Wednesday (Martin Rickett\/PA)<\/p>\n
\u201cErling is the best striker in the world,\u201d Guardiola said pointedly when asked about his star forward at a press conference to preview Sunday\u2019s Premier League trip to Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Haaland started on the bench in the second leg of City\u2019s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The feeling was Guardiola was resting the 25-year-old ahead of the crucial Anfield encounter but Omar Marmoush took his chance to shine in his place, scoring twice.<\/p>\n
Asked if Haaland would come back into the side, Guardiola said: \u201cI don\u2019t know, we\u2019ll decide tomorrow, but I always say Erling is the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pep \ud83d\udcac (On if impressed with Marc Gu\u00e9hi) A lot\u2026 He\u2019s a great, great, great player, you can smell it, a great signing for five, six, seven years. He’s top. He lives to be a good central defender. pic.twitter.com\/ye2JJ0y7SB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Manchester City (@ManCity) February 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n New signing Marc Guehi is set to return to the City side having been ineligible to feature in midweek.<\/p>\n The England centre-back, who moved to the Etihad Stadium from Crystal Palace for \u00a320million last month, had been close to joining Liverpool last summer before a move collapsed on deadline day.<\/p>\n Guardiola is pleased City ultimately benefited from that failed transfer.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cYou can smell it \u2013 he\u2019ll be a great, great signing for City for the next five, six, seven, eight years. Top.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the skills, the mentality, the professionalism, the way he leads. Many of the things you need to be a good, good central defender.\u201d<\/p>\n Guardiola voiced his frustration in midweek that Guehi cannot play in the Carabao Cup final but accepts the rule is not going to be changed.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI know the rules are the rules \u2013 and I understand. I don\u2019t understand why Antoine (Semenyo) can play but Marc can\u2019t. But there\u2019s a rule and it\u2019s OK. We can agree to disagree.\u201d<\/p>\n Second-placed City have dropped points in five of their last six Premier League games and can afford few further slip-ups if they are to keep the pressure on leaders Arsenal.<\/p>\n They face a Liverpool side this weekend who have failed to match the standards they set in winning title last season, but Guardiola says they are still a force to be reckoned with.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThey remain an exceptional team with a top-class manager, no doubt. The moments are the moments, the seasons are the seasons.<\/p>\n First @ManCity<\/a> appearance, first Man City clean sheet for Marc Guehi \ud83d\udd10\u2705<\/p>\n The centre-back completed 95 passes in the Citizens\u2019 2-0 win over Wolves, the most of any player on the pitch \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/TIxrE14snx<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Manchester](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2.83191103.jpg\")
Marc Guehi was ineligible to feature for City in midweek (Martin Rickett\/PA)<\/p>\n