It's looking increasingly likely that Manchester City will have to beat Liverpool without Erling Haaland on Saturday.
Haaland was 'touch-and-go' last week, according to his father, and the fact that he doesn't appear to have trained on Wednesday or Thursday has decreased the likelihood of him playing against Liverpool. Of course, he could have been working away from cameras to deceive Liverpool, and may be fit to play.
If he is fully fit, however, he would surely be training in the build-up to such an important game. At this stage, it might not be a surprise to see Haaland missing from the City squad completely.
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If he is missing, it would be a double blow given that Phil Foden is definitely out, too. Foden has enjoyed some fine games against Liverpool in recent years, while Haaland has eight goals in his last two games and 42 in total this season. He would significantly boost City's chances.
Without them, City will have to revert to their back-up plan, only seen eight times this season when Haaland has been unavailable or rested. This would be the biggest game by some distance without Haaland, though.
Each time the Norwegian hasn't started, Julian Alvarez has taken his place, and would be the logical replacement. Given his own good form, and the fact that he is the only remaining striker in the squad, Alvarez would feel disappointed not to get the nod.
In fact, in the eight games where Alvarez has started without Haaland, he has four goals and three assists, with City losing just once and winning six times. The only time City lost without Haaland was the Carabao Cup reverse at Southampton, when the whole side - including Haaland off the bench - were simply not at the races. It was nothing to do with Alvarez, who was one of the brighter performers among a very bad bunch.
Even when Haaland was needed off the bench to win the game against Fulham, Alvarez had given the Blues the lead before Joao Cancelo's red card, and the only other blank without Haaland came away at Copenhagen when Sergio Gomez was sent off early on and a draw was a good result.
So City can be confident of Alvarez adapting to a line-up where he is the leading striker through the centre. It shouldn't be forgotten that Alvarez played that role in the World Cup final, too.
Still, to say Alvarez would replace Haaland is hardly a groundbreaking revelation, nor is the fact that the wingers supporting him will likely be Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez. Without Foden, they are the probable wing pair and are both playing brilliantly. And of the games where Alvarez has led the line solo, at least one of the pair have started.
Grealish and Mahrez offer more possession, careful build-up and take fewer risks - an approach Guardiola will surely take vs Liverpool. Players like Bernardo Silva could also offer that, and on the eight occasions Haaland hasn't started for City, five have had Grealish and one of Bernardo or Mahrez also starting. They can offer the basis for Alvarez to run.
City will need their wingers, and their midfield, to be perfect tactically against Liverpool. It may even be a system that more resembles previous seasons than this one - just with Alvarez as the focal point rather than Haaland, Sergio Aguero or a false nine.
Their record without Haaland this season should give them confidence of getting a result against Liverpool.
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