Guardiola: Man City would not be challenging for trophies without Haaland

Pep Guardiola has insisted that without the contributions of Erling Haaland, Manchester City would not be challenging on all fronts this season. 

Haaland has come under scrutiny at times this season but delivered a crucial goal in City's pursuit of the Premier League title during their dramatic 2-1 win over Liverpool. 

The Norwegian netted a 93rd-minute penalty to score his first goal at Anfield at the fourth attempt, moving City to within six points of leaders Arsenal. 

Indeed, it was Haaland's 28th goal in all competitions this season, a total only bettered by Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe (both 38) among players in Europe's top five leagues. 

And despite some questioning his goal tally in recent weeks, Guardiola was quick to praise Haaland for his displays so far in 2025-26 ahead of facing Fulham on Wednesday. 

"The problem with Erling is he has to deal with his own numbers and expectations," Guardiola added.

"It’s not easy to do that for many, many years. This is the challenge for him. When your expectation is five goals per season, you can improve, improve.

"We won the treble because he arrived. He scored, I don't know how many goals in that first season and the expectations are there.

"When he doesn't score for four or five games, it's what happened, what happened, what happened.

"We cannot forget that in the last games he maybe doesn't have the numbers he wants, but we are in the position we are thanks to him.

"For three quarters of the season, if he didn't score Erling, I don't know who will score.

"We are in a position in the Champions League and especially the Premier League, without Erling it would not be possible."

Guardiola was also impressed with the composure shown by Haaland to slot home past Alisson Becker from 12 yards last Sunday. 

Timed at 92:42, Haaland's penalty for City was the latest winning goal by a visiting team at Anfield in the Premier League on record (since 2006-07).

And it ensured the Citizens achieved a league double over Liverpool for the first time since 1936-37, with this just the sixth time they have ever done so against the Reds.

"I know it's not easy," Guardiola said of Haaland's temperament before taking his spot-kick against Liverpool. 

"Anfield in the 91, 92 minutes, in the situation we have, taking it there, having this composure and his body language with his eyes with fire in that, it's not easy.

"That defines good players. He takes a lot of responsibility for himself, he wants to help all the time. 

"The way he celebrated the goal, you know he desperately wants to help the team and the club. But as I said to him – don't put too much pressure on.

"Go there and rely on your instinct, rely on your movements, anticipate the actions as your instinct has better than anyone in the world.

"Strikers always make the turn around and come back."