Erling Haaland was not spotted during Manchester City’s training session ahead of Saturday’s game with Liverpool (Image: Sky Sports)

Erling Haaland went unnoticed during Manchester City’s training session on Thursday morning as the Premier League’s top scorer suffered a groin injury.

Pep Guardiola’s side welcomed their all-star international line-up this morning before putting Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish to the test.

Saturday’s early kick-off sees the champions host Liverpool in what is arguably their toughest match apart from a high-profile encounter with Arsenal, and they can’t afford to be without their Norwegian scoring machine.

Haaland has already scored an impressive 43 goals for club and country this season, but was forced to pull out of Norway’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Spain and Georgia due to a groin injury.

Alfie, Erling’s father, confirmed to TV2 earlier this week that his son had suffered a setback: “He would have loved to play those two international matches, but now it won’t be,” Alfie Haaland told TV2:

“He needs to prioritize his health and try to get his body back in order. According to the assumptions, he is fine, but he is very sad.

“First of all, it is the national team that makes the decision, but of course they cooperate.

“You have to know as much as possible about it and of course ask the doctors and physios at Manchester City. Then they come up with something together.

Manchester City has a partnership with a hospital in Barcelona. He was there for further checkups and treatments. Now he was here [in Marbella] a few days in the club’s physio. So he’s getting a good follow-up.’

Meanwhile, Liverpool travel to the Etihad in hopes of adding Luis Diaz to their squad for the first time since October.

The Colombia international has recovered from a knee injury suffered in a defeat to Arsenal, while compatriot Darwin Nunez is expected to play.

However, Saturday’s game comes too early for influential midfielder Thiago Alcantara.