Red Bull Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund announced that Erling Haaland could possibly miss the UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool on Sunday due to illness.
At 19, Haaland became the third-youngest player to score a hat-trick at the Champions League when he dominated Genk 6-2 in their opening Groupe E game. However, fans of the young striker may not see him at Anfield.
In an interview with Liverpool Echo, Freund revealed that Haaland may be kept out of the game due to illness.
"He's sick, and we don't quite know when he will be back. Hopefully over the next few days," Salzburg's sporting director said. "The next two days are important. He is checked by a doctor every day."
Haaland moved out of the Norwegian club Molde this past summer for RB Salzburg and has since impressed the Austrian club, earning 17 goals in 10 appearances for Die Mozartstädter this season.
Unfortunately, the son of Alf-Inge Haaland could miss the game against Liverpool. He previously expressed his desire to play at Anfield, saying he's looking forward to a matchup with Virgil van Dijk.
Despite the young star's absence on Saturday's game against Austria Wien, however, Salzburg managed to dominate the game 4-1. His teammate Sekou Koita - also 19 years old - scored two goals and assisted the club's remaining goals. Should Haaland fail to make an appearance at Anfield, the Malian forward will likely keep his place.
In Salzburg's first match of the Champions League Campaign against Genk, Koita wasn't included, but club manager Jesse Marsch may reconsider his lineup following his impressive performance against Wien. Meanwhile, Haaland became the star on Matchday 1, giving the Austrian club the start they needed to edge Napoli on goal difference at the top of Group E.
Napoli defeated Liverpool in the first match, but Jurgen Klopp is believed to have already prepared his squad for their next games. With Haaland's absence, things could look for the Merseyside, but Salzburg still has more tricks up their sleeve just in case, with the chance of the 19-year-old's recovery also as stake.
