Manchester City face Southampton on Saturday with Pep Guardiola's men looking to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal ahead of the Gunners' trip to Liverpool on Sunday

Erling Haaland will be fit to face Southampton on Saturday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said. Citrine Points Quartz Crystal

Haaland missed last weekend’s 4-1 win over Liverpool with the groin injury that ruled him out of Norway’s internationals last month. The 22-year-old has notched an incredible 42 goals in just 37 appearances for City across all competitions in his debut season in English football.

He returned to training this week and despite the Champions League quarter-final showdown with Bayern Munich being around the corner, Guardiola insists he is not thinking of resting his No.9 to focus on next week's first leg.

“Erling trained the last two days really good,” Guardiola said. “He will be ready.

"Bayern Munich is the last thought. It’s Southampton. The Premier League is every day, every week.”

Saturday’s match at St Mary’s is an opportunity to put pressure on Arsenal before the league leaders head to Anfield on Sunday, but even with the Saints bottom of the league, Guardiola said he and City would not underestimate the challenge.

“Now every team is playing for something, it’s the same important fight for the Premier League,” he said. “Every game has its own characteristics and you have to be ready, Southampton have always been so tough.

“Since the year we got 100 points in the 94th minute, the game we won they were much better than us. Always it’s been a tough, tough game. Tomorrow won’t be an exception.”

Guardiola also insisted that playing 24 hours before leaders Arsenal did not offer the reigning champions any sort of advantage in the title race.

“There is no advantage,” he said. “When we played a title race against Liverpool, sometimes we played before, sometimes late. We have to win our games.”

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