Haaland absent for Man City as Guardiola names new-look attack at Leicester

Erling Haaland missed Manchester City’s game at Leicester City on Saturday after the Norway international’s early midweek substitution in the Champions League.

The former Borussia Dortmund striker left the action at half-time against his former club, with manager Pep Guardiola subsequently stating the striker was nursing a foot problem and a fever.

Haaland, who has scored a breathtaking 17 Premier League goals in 11 games already this term, had hoped to pass a late fitness test to feature for his side’s trip to the King Power Stadium.

But with the teams in, it was revealed the 22-year-old had lost the battle to feature, with Guardiola instead favouring a front three of Julian Alvarez flanked by Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish.

TEAM NEWS

XI | Ederson, Stones, Akanji, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Alvarez, Grealish

SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Dias, Ake, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand#ManCity | @HaysWorldwide pic.twitter.com/gYJUIL7Y9V

— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 29, 2022

Phil Foden and former Leicester player Riyad Mahrez were on the bench for visitors City, who were looking to jump ahead of league leaders Arsenal.

Victory for the visitors would see them vault to the top of the table, to increase the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, who face Nottingham Forest on Sunday.