Pep Guardiola: Erling Haaland 'the best striker in the world' despite drab form

""Erling is the best striker in the world," said Guardiola."

""I don't know, but I always say Erling is the best.""

""It is always the toughest opponent and a difficult place and stadium with the quality of the players and the managers," he said."

""They remain an exceptional team with a top class manager. "The moments are the moments, the seasons are the seasons. They rebuilt the squad not for one season but for many seasons.""

The Manchester City manager called Erling Haaland the best striker in the world despite a pronounced dip in goalscoring form during 2026. Haaland has not scored from open play in the Premier League this year; his last open-play goals came in a 3-0 win over West Ham on Dec. 20. Speculation has emerged that Omar Marmoush could start after scoring twice against Newcastle, but Haaland's starting status for the trip to Anfield remains undecided. Manchester City must beat Liverpool to stay level with Arsenal near the top of the table, while Liverpool are characterized as an exceptional, long-term rebuild under a top-class manager.

Read at ESPN.com