Wayne Rooney has declared that Manchester City’s dramatic comeback at Liverpool should serve as a serious warning to Premier League leaders Arsenal, insisting the Gunners should be “scared” of a resurgent Erling Haaland.
Rooney Points to Haaland Boost After City’s Liverpool Win
The former Manchester United captain highlighted the psychological impact of City’s last-gasp 2-1 victory at Anfield, where Bernardo Silva and Haaland struck late to snatch three points.
Rooney believes the win was “huge” for Pep Guardiola’s side and a “deflating” moment for their title rivals.
“If they slipped nine points adrift of Arsenal it would have been very difficult,” Rooney stated on BBC’s Match of the Day.
“But the confidence and belief that will give them is huge.”
He specifically pinpointed Haaland’s contribution as a major turning point. The striker ended a brief Premier League goal drought by coolly converting a decisive injury-time penalty, his first goal at Anfield for City.
“For Arsenal, it’s scary,” Rooney said.
“The confidence that will give him now will be scary for Arsenal in the next few weeks. I think it’s been a confidence issue… that goal will raise his confidence levels again.”
Rooney urged Mikel Arteta’s squad, who beat Sunderland 3-0, to ignore City’s charge and focus solely on their own performances.
However, he acknowledged the mental challenge, noting Arsenal players watching at home would have found City’s late turnaround “deflating.”
The result keeps City within six points of the summit with a game in hand. They can close the gap to three points against Fulham on Wednesday, before Arsenal face Brentford on Thursday.
