Erling Haaland faces race to be fit in time for RB Salzburg’s Champions League clash with Liverpool after picking up illness
- Erling Haaland faces a race against time to be fit for Wednesday’s clash
- Haaland sat out RB Salzburg’s routine win over Austria Wien on Saturday
- The club’s sporting director says Haaland will be monitored daily by a doctor
Erling Haaland is facing a race against time to be fit for RB Salzburg’s Champions League clash with Liverpool on Wednesday.
Haaland, who burst on to the European scene with a stunning hat-trick in his side’s 6-2 win over Genk, is struggling with an illness.
The 19-year-old sat out his side’s routine win over Austria Wien on Saturday and Salzburg are hopeful he’ll recover in time for Wednesday’s game.
Erik Haaland is a doubt for RB Salzburg’s clash with Liverpool after picking up an illness
Haaland scored a stunning hat-trick in Salzburg’s 6-2 Champions League win over Genk
The 19-year-old sat out his side’s victory over Austria Wien on Saturday as a precaution
The club’s sporting director, Christoph Freund, said:
‘The next two days are important. He is checked by a doctor every day,’ Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund told Viasat after the game.
‘He’s sick, and we don’t quite know when he will be back. Hopefully over the next few days.’
The news will be a boost for Liverpool, who were beaten 2-0 by Napoli in their opening Champions League group stage clash.
Haaland’s clash with Virgil van Dijk, arguably the game’s best centre-back, has been hotly anticipated and the striker admits he’s looking forward to testing himself if he’s fit.
‘We all have to be at our best ever, every player, to have a chance against this team,’ Haaland told Salzburg’s official website.
‘I don’t think you can train to play against him [Van Dijk], but you can train on things that can maybe trick him or set him out of position.’