Erling Haaland delivering on warning as Liverpool knows truth of Man City defeat

Manchester City were dealt a second consecutive pre-season defeat , falling 3-2 to AC Milan on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.

City seemed set for a routine performance as they aimed to recover from Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Celtic, with Erling Haaland putting the Premier League champions in front after just 19 minutes. However, the atmosphere quickly shifted as Milan surged into a 2-1 lead courtesy of a rapid double from young forward Lorenzo Colombo.

City's Rico Lewis was twice caught out down the right flank by Milan's Samuel Chukwueze, leaving Colombo with two straightforward finishes. A significantly altered City side came out fighting in the second half, with James McAtee netting a close-range header following a cross to the back post by Lewis.

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Both sides sought the decisive goal, and it was Milan who found it when substitute Marco Nasti put the Italian club ahead with just 12 minutes left on the clock. Despite the five-goal thriller at Yankee Stadium, the loudest cheer came after 82 minutes.

US men's national team stars Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic were introduced for Milan, although some fans expressed disappointment that they weren't brought on earlier. Here are five key takeaways from Milan's pre-season victory over City.

Erling Haaland shines following 'improvement' statement

Ahead of Saturday's match, Haaland stated that he has made improvements in "a lot of things" as he gears up for the 2024-25 season. This might be a tough pill to swallow for some fans, considering the 24-year-old is already one of the world's top footballers.

However, his claim holds water as the forward seems primed to break his own Premier League scoring record next season.

"Hopefully I will be a better footballer and a better human this season," Haaland shared with journalists on Friday. The Norwegian striker took just 12 minutes to find the back of the net against Celtic on Tuesday and put City in the lead against Milan within 19 minutes on Saturday with a clean finish into the bottom-left corner.

Haaland's speed, physicality, and intelligence have been on full display since his days at Borussia Dortmund and have only improved since his move to City in 2022. However, the 6-foot-4 titan seems to have reaped the benefits of a summer break without international football and could pose an even greater threat to opposition teams next season.

Oscar Bobb looks set to dazzle

City's forward Oscar Bobb netted a memorable goal last season, one that helped Guardiola's squad clinch a record fourth consecutive Premier League title. He came off the bench to score a 91st-minute winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Newcastle and made a total of 14 league appearances last season.

The young Norwegian, who shares the international stage with Haaland, was the standout player in the first half, thrilling the crowd at Yankee Stadium. His nimble footwork on the right flank set up Haaland's opening goal, and Bobb himself narrowly missed a scoring opportunity soon after.

Bobb's synergy with Haaland is evident, and could be a factor in City's restrained transfer activity this summer, given the wealth of emerging talent. Bobb is certainly among the most promising.

Rico Lewis tested by Samuel Chukwueze

During City's US tour in 2022, Guardiola took note of young defender Rico Lewis, who has since become a regular squad member. At just 19, Lewis boasts considerable experience with 30 Premier League appearances and some impressive performances, but he found Milan a tough opponent on Sunday.

Lewis was assigned to mark Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze, while also being encouraged to push forward by Guardiola. Within 10 minutes, Lewis was visibly fatigued, and struggled to keep pace with Chukwueze.

Both of Milan's first-half goals were scored by Colombo, with Chukwueze providing the assists as he repeatedly outpaced Lewis. However, Lewis redeemed himself somewhat by setting up James McAtee early in the second half, providing a much-needed lift for the young defender.

Lorenzo Colombo turns up the heat on Alvaro Morata

Young Milan striker Lorenzo Colombo had a dream first half, netting twice as the Italian side brilliantly countered Haaland's opening goal. The 22-year-old joined Milan at just eight years old but has spent most of his time on loan since making his senior debut in 2020.

Milan recently secured the signature of Atletico Madrid forward Alvaro Morata in a deal worth $14m, but Colombo could be given an opportunity this season by new head coach Paulo Fonseca. Morata is already facing competition from current forwards Luka Jovic and Noah Okafor, but Colombo appears ready for his first full season.

Colombo has gained invaluable experience with Italian clubs Cremonese, SPAL, Lecce, and Monza, scoring seven goals in Serie B and nine in Serie A. Fonseca has a decision to make, but either way, it seems Milan has a promising young forward.

Alessandro Florenzi suffers another injury

Serie A stalwart Alessandro Florenzi could be looking at another extended period out after being assisted off the pitch in the first half. Milan had just taken the lead when Florenzi went down, and things looked grim when the stretcher was brought out.

He was eventually helped off the pitch but was visibly upset, and now faces a tense wait to determine the extent of the injury. He was unable to bear any weight on his right leg and will undergo immediate examination.

Florenzi, who joined Milan in 2022 after a lifelong stint with Roma, was hit by a hamstring injury early in the 22-23 season, limiting him to just six league appearances. Despite managing a full season in 23-24, Milan could potentially face a shortage again.

Liverpool.com says: A City defeat might be cause for optimism among some supporters, although Liverpool will know better than to come anywhere near writing off Pep Guardiola's side. They are of course still without some of their stars after a busy international summer, and even in defeat, the sight of Haaland hitting form is ominous.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Mirror by clicking here .