PAIR OF ACES
City’s deadly duo perfect partners
ERLING HAALAND and Julian Alvarez can become the most dynamic Champions League duo since Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole in 1999 – according to the one man who knows best...Yorke himself.
Norwegian sensation Haaland took the world by storm last season after moving to Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund for £52million.
The striker bagged an astonishing 36 Premier League goals in 35 games and 12 goals in 11 European appearances.
He’s not wasted any time this term either with eight top-flight goals already to his name.
But in the Champions League it’s Alvarez who has got off the mark first.
The versatile forward, 23, notched a brace against Red Star Belgrade in a 3-1 triumph earlier this month and will be looking to continue his run of form away to RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
Given Haaland’s exploits, Alvarez has almost gone under the radar since signing from Argentine outfit River Plate last year.
But Yorke believes the diminutive ace deserves more plaudits as his role develops in the team.
“Alvarez is very underrated and people always forget about him,” said the former striker, who was a Treble winner with Manchester United in 1999.
“He deserves a lot more recognition but I don’t think he enjoys the limelight too much.
“This is a kid who, in the last year, has won every trophy available to him.
Haaland gets the headlines but Alvarez is a serious talent.”
City matched United’s exploits from 23 years ago by bagging the Premier League title, FA Cup and Champions League last season.
Over two decades ago, United had their own pair of prolific forwards (right) who terrified defenders at home and abroad.
Yorke himself scored 23 goals in the 1999-00 campaign.
Andy Cole, meanwhile, recorded 22 in all competitions that year.
And Yorke reckons City will want both forwards
RB LEIPZIG have been rocked by the departure of sporting director Max Eberl just days before they face Manchester City in the Champions League. Eberl was sacked after failing to give Leipzig assurances that he was committed to them after reports linking him to Liverpool and Bayern Munich. He has been with Leipzig for less than two years but the club felt they had no option after finding out he was considering other offers. Leipzig were battered 7-0 at The Etihad as City went on to become European champions last season, with Erling Haaland scoring five. But Leipzig have faced the Blues twice at home, winning 2-1 in December 2021 and drawing 1-1 last season before that Haaland-inspired thrashing. firing and developing an on-pitch rapport as they look to build up a similarly lethal partnership and bag back-to-back Champions League triumphs.
“Cole’s record speaks for itself,” he added. “We’re talking about someone with 187 Premier League goals. I scored 123 but Coley was a lot more prolific. “Opposites attract in life and football is no different. “Haaland can play in that No.9 role whereas Alvarez can beat a man before linking play, much like I did.
“Cole and I were opposite in personality but in football terms we were quite similar.”