Manchester City have been handed an injury scare just a week before a crucial trip to Liverpool, after Erling Haaland was forced off during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League defeat to Portugal on Sunday.

The 26-year-old signalled to the Norway bench that he needed to come off in the second half, with the score still level at 1-1 at the time.

He walked off unaided, but the early withdrawal was enough to raise concern back in Manchester.

Portugal went on to win the match through a 79th-minute Goncalo Ramos goal, with Cristiano Ronaldo absent from their lineup for the fixture.

Why the timing matters for city

The concern comes at a sensitive moment for Pep Guardiola’s side, who travel to face Liverpool in just a week’s time, a fixture already surrounded by added scrutiny following City’s guilty verdict in their ongoing case with the Premier League.

Haaland has been a workhorse for Norway throughout the international break, starting all four of the country’s Nations League fixtures inside a packed 10-day window.

He had already scored against both Denmark and Portugal earlier in the campaign, underlining just how heavily his national side has leaned on him.

City will now have to wait for further clarity on the extent of the issue. The club already has one fitness concern to track after Nico O’Reilly was withdrawn early from England duty through injury.

A big loss if it’s serious

Any extended absence would sting, given the form Haaland has carried into the season. The striker has been in sensational touch at club level, netting seven goals in seven appearances for City so far.

That form has mirrored City’s own start to the campaign — Guardiola’s side currently sit top of the Premier League table, making the timing of any fresh injury worry all the more unwelcome.