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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Mark Wakefield

John Barnes makes honest Erling Haaland admission before Liverpool v Man City

Liverpool legend John Barnes says he doesn’t expect his old club to keep Erling Haaland quiet when they face Manchester City this weekend.

The Reds take on City at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday. Liverpool go into the game 13 points behind their rivals in the table, sitting 10th place in the standings after eight matches played.

Jurgen Klopp will be busy preparing his players to try and beat Pep Guardiola’s side, however, just as they did in the Community Shield back in July. On that day Klopp's Liverpool side ran out 3-1 winners with City's biggest summer signing Haaland failing to hit the target.

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But since then the Norwegian has scored 20 goals in just 12 appearances and he will go into the game with the Reds having been rested by Guardiola for the midweek Champions League clash at FC Copenhagen, where City failed to score in their No.9's absence.

And Barnes has been asked if he thinks Liverpool will have a chance at stopping Haaland from getting on the scoresheet come Sunday. When posed this question by Bonus Code Bets , Barnes responded: "Who knows. He might score, he might not.

"Haaland is a very dangerous player but [Virgil] Van Dijk is a fantastic player. If I went to the bookies and had to put my house on it then I'd say no [Liverpool won't keep him out]. Liverpool need to defend much better than they have."

Barnes was also asked to compare Klopp and Guardiola as managers. However, the former Liverpool star did not find it easy to pick his preference, despite his allegiance to the Reds.

"They are both fantastic managers," said Barnes. “Guardiola's got the better team, so who's the better manager?

“They are both fantastic managers who have won the Champions League, Premier League and the cups so there's nothing between them."

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