Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised his Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, describing him as "the best striker in the world," in the pre-match press conference ahead of the highly anticipated clash against Liverpool. Despite this high praise, the Spanish coach declined to give a definitive answer as to whether the Norwegian goalscorer would start in the Premier League match scheduled for Sunday.

The Manchester City-Liverpool clash has gained immense importance in recent years, becoming one of the most intense tactical and technical battles in world football, and its outcome often plays a decisive role in determining the Premier League title race. This match comes at a crucial time for both teams, increasing the pressure on Guardiola to select the optimal lineup to secure three points in the heated title race.

On a technical level, Haaland is experiencing a period of inconsistency, having scored only two goals in his last two matches. Guardiola had kept his lethal striker on the bench during last Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle United, which City won 3-1. When the manager brought him on in the 71st minute, the Norwegian failed to replicate his usual brilliance and lacked his decisive touch in front of goal, raising questions about his mental and physical readiness for the upcoming match.

Going back to the start of the season, Haaland had a phenomenal start, scoring 19 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals – a feat that reflects the immense value he has brought to the Sky Blues. It's worth noting that Haaland had already found the net against Liverpool in the first leg, a 3-0 victory for City last November. However, when asked by reporters about his next appearance, Guardiola replied: "I don't know until tomorrow, but all I can say is that Erling is the best, Erling is the best striker in the world.".

In another context, Guardiola addressed his future with the club, denying rumors that this season might be his last. The Spanish coach explained, "I have one year left on my contract, which is the same answer I gave two months ago." The former Barcelona manager signed a two-year contract extension in November 2024, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until June 2027, continuing his trophy-laden career, which has seen him win 18 titles with City, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League title.

The 55-year-old coach didn't miss the opportunity to reiterate his humanitarian stance, again expressing his "pain" for the victims in conflict zones such as Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan. In response to criticism urging him to focus solely on football, Guardiola said: "Honestly, I didn't say anything extraordinary. I don't understand why I'm not allowed to express my feelings just because I'm a coach. I condemn all conflicts around the world," emphasizing his respect for all opinions despite disagreeing with attempts to silence his humanitarian voice.

Veteran French star Karim Benzema made a spectacular debut for Saudi club Al-Hilal during the 2025/2026 winter transfer window. Benzema led his new team to a resounding 6-0 victory over Al-Akhdoud on Thursday evening, scoring a hat-trick that confirmed his readiness to spearhead the attack of the league leaders.

This strong start for Benzema comes after the termination of his contract with Al-Ittihad, a deal that generated considerable discussion in sporting circles. Ironically, Benzema had already opened his scoring account this season with Al-Ittihad, netting a hat-trick against the same Al-Akhdoud team in the first round, a match that ended in a 5-2 victory for Al-Ittihad. This made Al-Akhdoud a favorite victim of the French star when he wore the jerseys of the two Saudi Arabian football giants.

Benzema didn't just score goals; he also broke records that had stood for years in the Saudi Professional League. With the final whistle of the match in round 21, Benzema became the first player to score a hat-trick for his new team, which he joined in the winter transfer window, since the 2009-2010 season, equaling the record of Moroccan Abdelkarim Benhenia. He also became only the seventh player in history to score a hat-trick in his debut match for a new team in the Saudi Professional League.

In a unique historical precedent, the 38-year-old became the first player in the league's history to score a hat-trick against the same opponent while playing for two different teams in a single season. He is only the third player overall to score two hat-tricks against the same opponent in one season, after Syrian Omar Al-Somah (against Al-Raed in 2015-2016) and Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah (against Al-Raed in 2018-2019). However, Benzema stands out as the only player to have achieved this feat with two different clubs.

On a personal level, and compared to his illustrious European career, Benzema achieved his fastest scoring start with Al-Hilal of any club he has played for. He found the net after just 31 minutes in his debut match, before adding two more goals in the 60th and 64th minutes. This start surpasses his debut with Al-Ittihad, where he scored after 54 minutes, and is significantly faster than his debut with Real Madrid, where he waited until his third match to score, and with Lyon, where he scored his first goal in his tenth appearance.

This strong performance reflects the great technical value that the former Ballon d'Or holder adds to the ranks of "Al-Za'eem" and enhances Al-Hilal's chances of winning the league title and competing strongly on all levels, confirming that Benzema's passion for scoring is still burning brightly in Saudi stadiums.

Saudi football fans will be glued to their screens tomorrow evening, Saturday, for the highly anticipated match between Al-Fateh and Al-Qadisiyah, which concludes the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. This encounter carries added significance, not only because it's a battle for three points to improve their standings, but also because it represents a mini-derby for clubs in the Eastern Province, adding a special, passionate atmosphere and attracting large crowds.

Before the opening whistle, the statistics reveal the contours of the historical rivalry between the two teams. Head-to-head records indicate a slight advantage for Al-Fateh, who have dominated in a greater number of matches compared to Al-Qadisiyah. This historical advantage puts Al-Fateh under pressure to maintain their positive record, while giving Al-Qadisiyah added incentive to break the deadlock and close the gap in their head-to-head record.

According to official statistics from previous encounters, the two teams have met in 20 matches across various domestic competitions, and the results of these encounters are as follows:

• 9 victories in favor of Al-Fateh team, reflecting its high ability to win derbies in recent years.
• 6 victories and is striving to increase its tally of victories and get closer to its competitor's record.
• Five matches ended in a draw, indicating that competitiveness was present in approximately a quarter of the encounters between the two teams.

This match comes amidst the significant development witnessed by the Saudi Professional League, where every game has become a major sporting event attracting widespread local and regional attention. The Saudi League is no longer merely a local competition; it has transformed into a global arena featuring elite players, thus elevating the technical value of each encounter. In this context, Al-Qadisiyah aims to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans, as well as their current form, to close the historical gap, while Al-Fateh aspires to maintain their dominance and secure all three points, which could prove crucial in their league campaign this season.

Tomorrow’s match is not limited to the 90 minutes on the pitch, but is an extension of a long history of fair competition between the two prestigious clubs, as the sports fans await crucial details that may change the digital map of direct confrontations between them.