If all goes well, Erling Haaland will be ready to go when Manchester City returns to play.

Haaland, Nathan Ake, Ederson, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, and Sergio Gomez have all been injured during the international break, joining Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones on the list. However, it is unclear how serious the injuries sustained by those individuals are and whether they would miss any substantial action as a result.

The idea of City heading into Saturday’s showdown with Liverpool without so many key players is obviously intimidating, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see Pep Guardiola be ambiguous on who will be fit to play mind games with his great nemesis Jurgen Klopp.

Rodri, on the other hand, is fit after missing Spain’s opening game due to discomfort but then playing 86 minutes in their win over Georgia on Monday. City fans will be most concerned about goalkeeper Ederson and, of course, Haaland ahead of the game. After losing to Arsenal and Chelsea in recent weeks, the Blues could really use a win here.

No one wants to go into a game without such a prolific striker – 69 goals in just 71 appearances now – but City do have a decent stand-in in Julian Alvarez, who has also scored this season. “Right now, if Erling is unable to play, Julian will fill in. Julian is very good! “I like him coming in as a striker, and he can play both, so we’re really happy,” Guardiola remarked earlier this month when the Norwegian faced another fitness concern.

Though losing Haaland is never ideal, Alvarez moving up would create an opening that could answer another of Guardiola’s biggest quandaries: Jeremy Doku or Jack Grealish?

The left-wing controversy has raged throughout the campaign, with many fans falling in love with Doku’s direct, quick attacking style and being turned off by Grealish’s conservative approach. However, the England international has demonstrated his value by being able to keep the ball and assist his defense while also putting up an electrifying performance in the Manchester derby.

When City is at its best, there is generally only one place for one, but with Haaland gone, both might fit in. If Alvarez is shifted up top, Phil Foden is the natural and in-form successor in the middle attacking spot, even if Kovacic and Nunes aren’t doubts.

Bernardo Silva has performed admirably in a deeper place beside Rodri, and he should stay there even if he could move forward to any position. If Foden moved inside, the right flank would be available for Doku to enter, allowing Grealish to start on the same side on his natural flank.

That starting XI might not have the finest striker in the world, but it would still have plenty of firepower.