The Premier League is once again the stage for comparisons between top strikers, and this time the debate was sparked by Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City manager made it clear in a press conference that, for him, there is no striker superior to Erling Haaland—not even Liverpool’s recent record signing, Swedish forward Alexander Isak.

Haaland, Guardiola’s untouchable

The Spanish coach was blunt: “I wouldn’t swap Erling for anyone. Isak is an exceptional player, but Haaland is a little bit above. I know what he brings to me and I like having him in my team,” said Guardiola, responding to the praise from Arne Slot, Liverpool’s manager, who had described Isak as “maybe the best striker in the world.”