It’s not certain whether Erling Haaland will be able to start for Rb Salzburg this evening, but most noises are suggesting the Norwegian wonderkid will be ready following an illness.
The 19-year-old has scored a barbaric number of goals this season for the Austrians, registering 17 before the end of September – including a hat-trick on Champions League debut two weeks ago.
Tonight, Liverpool host Salzburg and Jurgen Klopp was quick to praise the son of former Manchester City midfielder Alf-Inge.
“He is a wonderful player: very young, very confident, very quick. He looks clear minded and focused on the pitch,” he told the Telegraph.
“He looks a decent player and is in the perfect place at the moment. I hope he can play as long as possible. He is not the only threat for us, unfortunately, but he is a proper one.”
Some media outlets will no doubt turn these quotes into a transfer link, but there’s no way Liverpool will sign a teenage forward to block Rhian Brewster’s path to the first-team until the Englishman has been given a proper chance.
We reckon Haaland may end up with one of England’s biggest clubs though – possibly Manchester United – having previously worked with Ole Gunnar Solksjaer at FC Molde.
Liverpool are without Joel Matip, Alisson and Xherdan Shaqiri for the Anfield tie – our first home game in three.
Joe Gomez will come into the backline, with Adrian between the sticks and possibly Naby Keita making his first European appearance of the season in midfield.