Can Liverpool Stop Erling Haaland? City Striker in Messi-Like Form Faces Van Dijk Test
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will face Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in one of the Premier League’s most anticipated fixtures of the season. Haaland, who has scored 27 goals in 17 games for club and country, is in devastating form — and even Pep Guardiola has compared his impact to that of Lionel Messi. The Norwegian striker has averaged nearly two goals per 90 minutes this season, with 13 goals in the Premier League alone — accounting for 65% of City’s total. Guardiola admitted City’s reliance on Haaland is a concern but praised his evolution, saying the 24-year-old is now “performing at Messi and Ronaldo levels.” However, Liverpool may have reason for optimism. Haaland has scored just three times in eight meetings against the Reds, and only once in four Premier League games. Van Dijk, who has often neutralized the striker in past encounters, will once again be tasked with leading the defensive line against one of football’s most lethal forwards. Liverpool’s strategy could take inspiration from Aston Villa’s 1-0 victory over City earlier this season, where Unai Emery’s men limited Haaland to minimal touches and denied him space in the box. Ezri Konsa’s tight marking and Villa’s compact defensive structure forced Haaland into one of his least effective games of the campaign. Van Dijk emphasized after a previous win over City that stopping Haaland requires collective effort rather than individual battles. “It’s all about doing it together and stopping the service,” he said. That service has evolved — with Phil Foden now supplying Haaland most frequently, and Rayan Cherki adding creativity in midfield since Kevin De Bruyne’s departure. Still, few defenders in world football command the same presence as Van Dijk, whose recent form has silenced critics after helping Liverpool secure back-to-back clean sheets. As Jamie Carragher noted, Haaland remains Liverpool’s biggest threat, but Van Dijk could be the key to containing him. Manchester City vs Liverpool kicks off at 4:30 PM (UK) at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, November 9, in a clash that could have major implications for the Premier League title race.
