Just when it looked like Liverpool’s season couldn’t get any worse, Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered a disappointing defeat to managerless Leicester City. Void of any passion, determination or, indeed, quality – the Reds had no chance of winning against the out-of-form Premier League champions.
Liverpool’s fall from grace has been a remarkable one to witness. Just a few months ago, they were the side that was touted to go toe-to-toe with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea – with an impressive 1-0 victory over Man City on the final day of 2016 serving as a microcosm of the rest of the year for the Reds. Efficient and often dominant, Jurgen Klopp looked like he was finally making an impact at Anfield.
But then, 2017 happened.
Both January and February were pretty poor months for Liverpool, with defeat at Leicester City bringing even more questions to Jurgen Klopp’s doorstep. Now, with just a few months to go until the end of the season, the risk of the Reds dropping out of the top four is a very real prospect.
The Premier League is unarguably one of Europe’s most competitive divisions, and whilst teams around them have continually picked up points, Liverpool have really struggled. They failed to win a single league game in January, whilst just one victory came in February – and that is not the form of a Premier League title challenger.
Conversely, whilst Liverpool are continuing to struggle, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are breathing down their necks. The Red Devils are just two points behind Liverpool, with a game in hand, meaning that they could leapfrog Klopp’s side if they pick up maximum points from their remaining games. You certainly wouldn’t put it past United to go on a decent run of form, either, with Jose Mourinho’s side finally picking up a head of steam. Buoyant from victory in the EFL Cup final, you would expect United to impress hereafter, with Champions League football next season the clear goal for Mourinho.
When you look at Liverpool’s run-in, question marks can certainly be raised at how difficult Klopp is going to find the final few months of the season. Over the next month alone, Liverpool come up against Arsenal, Manchester City and Burnley – whilst a tough game against Everton is also coming up on April 1st. If Liverpool can get through those games unscathed, the complexity keeps coming, with tough games against relegation battlers including Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough likely to pose a significant threat.
United, meanwhile, are on fire. They can’t stop scoring, and their last few months of the season are looking significantly more manageable. Games in March are looking comparatively simple for the Red Devils, and whilst tough games against Arsenal and Chelsea are forthcoming in the final weeks of the season, it might be too late for Liverpool to react by then.
Certainly, it is not going to be easy for either side, and United’s European commitments could yet be Liverpool’s saving grace. But given the momentum that Mourinho’s side currently have – and the lack of fight that Liverpool are currently showing – it seems likely that Liverpool will be the side that come up short. It is going to be a battle for fourth spot this year, with the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal, United and Liverpool all likely to be fighting it out, but Liverpool are the ones who should be sweating.
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