Erling Haaland vows to improve after ending barren spell with vital winner against Liverpool – as Manchester City striker send title message to Arsenal

Erling Haaland admitted there are no excuses for his patchy form but believes Manchester City’s dramatic win at Anfield can act as a springboard for a sustained title push.

The Norwegian’s stoppage-time penalty earned City a first victory away at Liverpool in front of supporters since 2003, completing a late comeback that kept the gap with Arsenal to six points.

Haaland has not scored a goal from open play in any of his last nine Premier League appearances but produced a crucial header in assisting Bernardo Silva’s equaliser before slotting in the winner on Merseyside.

Pep Guardiola has claimed that the 25-year-old is ‘exhausted’ and rested him in recent wins over Wolves and Newcastle United.

‘I don’t want to speak about why I haven’t performed – I don’t think there is any excuse,’ Haaland said.

‘Fatigue is a lot is in the head. I haven’t scored enough goals since the start of this year and I know that I need to improve.

The turnaround away at Liverpool marked City’s first win there in front of fans for 23 years

‘I know I need to be sharper, better at all of this and this is something that I have to work on. I have to keep going because this is what everyone deserves and expects.’

City had failed to capitalise on Arsenal’s slips over the last month, winning just one of their last six league matches before ending the Anfield hoodoo.

A glut of missed glaring chances were the main reason behind that run of results, with Haaland involved in seven of the best squandered opportunities.

Part of Guardiola’s four-man leadership group for the first time, the Premier League’s top scorer believes the way in which City beat Liverpool gives them added impetus heading into the final 13 games of the season.

Asked if it was bigger than three points in the context of the title race, Haaland said: ‘It’s three points, it’s three points, it’s three points, simple as that, no matter who you play, if it is Tottenham or whatever. But I know what you mean. And yes, definitely. It’s true.

‘We’ve seen before that the title race is not over until it’s over. We go behind and we managed to turn it around, which is not easy. Especially not at Anfield. In the end, I’m proud of the effort that we did.’