Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised Erling Haaland as a “real monster” and admitted he expects the Norwegian to make Manchester City much stronger next season.
City announced on Tuesday that the 21-year-old Norway international will join Pep Guardiola’s squad ahead of the 2022-23 season following a £51m transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
Germany coach Klopp has described Haaland as a ‘force of nature’ in the past and even watched him score past Liverpool in Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League group stage match at Anfield in 2019.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (left) has praised Erling Haaland as a ‘real monster’ after sealing his move to rivals Manchester City.
The 21-year-old Norwegian striker will join Pep Guardiola’s squad ahead of the 2022-23 season
But Klopp will now have to see the attacking line-up for Liverpool’s Premier League title rivals in recent seasons, and he admitted he is a “really good signing” and will score plenty of goals at the back post.
When asked – after seeing his side defeat Aston Villa – if Haaland’s arrival at the Etihad would make City stronger, the Reds boss replied: “A lot. A good player. City have never been and never will be a team that wins because of one player.”
They have a specific way of playing, and I think Erling will suddenly realize he’s going to score a lot on the second post as he puts his foot on it. He will love it. It’s a real monster.
He was injured twice in Dortmund but when he is fit he is a real beast. Unfortunately, it’s a really good signature.
Klopp saw that Haaland scored against his Liverpool team for Red Bull Salzburg in October 2019
Haaland has attracted attention from all over Europe after scoring 85 goals in 88 games for Dortmund during his two and a half years there.
The current league leaders beat Real Madrid with the striker’s signature, and have also been linked with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in recent months.
Haaland will be the first real Manchester City player since the club’s all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero, but Reds icon Jamie Carragher believes his signature could upset the balance of their team.
Tell Sky Sports: Great signature, it really is. Not just for Manchester City, but for the Premier League. I think we’re all fascinated to see how he’s going to do. He and (PSG’s Kylian) Mbappe feel like the next superstars to excel. [Lionel] miss you [Cristiano] Ronaldo and you are very happy because he is in the Premier League.
Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher believes his signature could upset the balance of the City team
A lot of times, these players have maybe gone to Barcelona or Real Madrid, but now I feel the Premier League is the strongest league. You saw how well we did in the Champions League.
He’ll score goals, that’s what he was bought for, but that doesn’t guarantee City will win everything. You still have to incorporate him into the team. This means that City will lose another creative player who helps them keep the ball more or have more control over the matches.
But former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp was pleased with the fact that the Premier League will finally see a “worldwide star to be aspired to” once again.
Jamie Redknapp has discovered the fact that the Premier League will finally have a ‘global superstar that everyone coveted’
He said, “It’s a game that has changed the game not only for Man City but for the league. It’s the first time in a long time that we’ve had this global superstar that everyone aspires to. It’s very exciting for everyone involved. It would be great to have him in our league.”
After Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at Villa Park, Redknapp added: “I can’t wait to see Haaland, he is a young and world-class star, with a brilliant future.
“He is very fortunate to work with Pep, to work with a great coach and with players with a great mentality.”
