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5 reasons to be positive about Liverpool’s chances of winning the title

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Liverpool may never have been considered favourites to lift the Premier League title this season, but there is a convincing argument now that they can lift the trophy ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

With the fourth and final international break of the season in the can, the Premier League’s three title contenders head into the home straight with 10 games left to play and only a point separating them.

Leaders Arsenal and second-placed Liverpool have both picked up 64 from their 28 games so far – with the London side’s goal difference keeping them top – while Manchester City are third with 63.

It is anticipated to be a tight race over the next two months, with Liverpool finding themselves in a position few would have banked on them taking up before the season started.

Here are five reasons fans should be positive about Liverpool’s chances of going all the way and lifting the title come May.

1. The fixture list

Most importantly, the fixture list looks to favour Jürgen Klopp’s side, with Arsenal and Manchester City’s remaining opponents recording statistically better form than Liverpool’s in terms of points per game this season.

The least comfortable games may come with trips to Manchester United and Everton, but there are also home clashes with bottomed-placed Sheffield United and struggling Crystal Palace.

If they are able to weather a run of three away games in seven days against Fulham (currently 12th), Everton (16th) and West Ham (seventh), Liverpool know they will be at home for two of their final three, with the visits of Tottenham and Wolves sandwiching a trip to Aston Villa.

Crucially, though, unlike Arsenal and Manchester City, the Reds are not required to face either of their direct title rivals.

2. Their rivals will drop points

Without even assessing their own fixtures, the reality is that at least one of Arsenal or Manchester City are guaranteed to drop points in their final 10 games.

That will come as early as Sunday, not long after full-time in Liverpool’s home clash with Brighton, as Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad.

If Liverpool do their part at Anfield, a draw or victory for hosts Manchester City would mean that Klopp’s side take an immediate advantage by cementing themselves clear at the top of the table.

It could be the marginal advantage they need as psychological warfare sets in between Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.

3. European advantage?

When Liverpool failed to finish in the top four of the Premier League in 2022/23 it was widely considered – including, of course, by those within the club – a failure of seismic proportions.

Having salvaged a nightmare campaign to at least secure fifth, however, the Reds entered the Europa League for the first time since Klopp’s first season at the club, and have taken the second-tier tournament in their stride.

After dismantling Sparta Prague 11-2 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals, the Czech side’s manager, Brian Priske, summed it up perfectly: “Liverpool is a Champions League team and they should be playing in the Champions League.”

Their strength, and strength in depth, has allowed Klopp to rotate his squad throughout the Europa League while comfortably progressing – which could continue against Atalanta in the quarter-finals.

The same cannot be said of the Champions League, though, and Arsenal and Manchester City’s participation in the quarter-finals of that competition – where they face Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, respectively – could prove a hindrance when it comes to the league.

4. Key players are back – or almost back!

For once, the international break fell kindly for Liverpool, despite 17 players from Klopp’s first-team squad being called up for duty.

A two-week gap between the FA Cup quarter-final loss at Manchester United and the visit of Brighton on Sunday has allowed a number of players to rebuild their fitness and recover from injury.

Chiefly, that includes Mo Salah and Darwin Núñez, who were withdrawn from selection for Egypt and Uruguay, respectively, in order to nurse ongoing issues – and they were able to train throughout.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Alisson are all nearing a comeback, too, while initial scans on Andy Robertson’s ankle suggest the only new injury to stem from the March break is not as severe as first feared.

Adding those key players – who are, it should be stressed, four genuine first-choice starters – to an already-firing squad could be the boost Liverpool need to push through this final furlong on the domestic front.

5. The Klopp factor

And then there is the big intangible.

No one, even those closest to him in the squad, could have predicted the announcement of Klopp’s resignation back in January.

But while it has thrown Liverpool into uncertainty ahead of the summer, it only appears to have strengthened the resolve of his players, who are determined to sign off on this historic era with a bang.

Ask Ibrahima Konaté: “We want to win everything for him, and for us, and for the fans.”

Or Harvey Elliott: “We just want to win everything for him. We want to go into each and every game and treat it as a cup final.”

Or the captain, Virgil van Dijk: “Saying goodbye is not something I look forward to, but we can make it very nice by winning prizes together.”

It has been a steady theme throughout interviews with the Liverpool first team in the months since the shock news of Klopp’s plan to leave in the summer.

And, hiccup at Old Trafford in the cup aside, the evidence suggests it has given the Reds the edge they needed to fight through adversity – and injury – to give the manager a perfect send-off.

(Images from IMAGO)

To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.

5 reasons to be positive about Liverpool’s chances of winning the title

Liverpool may never have been considered favourites to lift the Premier League title this season, but there is a convincing argument now that they can lift the trophy ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

With the fourth and final international break of the season in the can, the Premier League’s three title contenders head into the home straight with 10 games left to play and only a point separating them.

Leaders Arsenal and second-placed Liverpool have both picked up 64 from their 28 games so far – with the London side’s goal difference keeping them top – while Manchester City are third with 63.

It is anticipated to be a tight race over the next two months, with Liverpool finding themselves in a position few would have banked on them taking up before the season started.

Here are five reasons fans should be positive about Liverpool’s chances of going all the way and lifting the title come May.

1. The fixture list

Most importantly, the fixture list looks to favour Jürgen Klopp’s side, with Arsenal and Manchester City’s remaining opponents recording statistically better form than Liverpool’s in terms of points per game this season.

The least comfortable games may come with trips to Manchester United and Everton, but there are also home clashes with bottomed-placed Sheffield United and struggling Crystal Palace.

If they are able to weather a run of three away games in seven days against Fulham (currently 12th), Everton (16th) and West Ham (seventh), Liverpool know they will be at home for two of their final three, with the visits of Tottenham and Wolves sandwiching a trip to Aston Villa.

Crucially, though, unlike Arsenal and Manchester City, the Reds are not required to face either of their direct title rivals.

2. Their rivals will drop points

Without even assessing their own fixtures, the reality is that at least one of Arsenal or Manchester City are guaranteed to drop points in their final 10 games.

That will come as early as Sunday, not long after full-time in Liverpool’s home clash with Brighton, as Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad.

If Liverpool do their part at Anfield, a draw or victory for hosts Manchester City would mean that Klopp’s side take an immediate advantage by cementing themselves clear at the top of the table.

It could be the marginal advantage they need as psychological warfare sets in between Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.

3. European advantage?

When Liverpool failed to finish in the top four of the Premier League in 2022/23 it was widely considered – including, of course, by those within the club – a failure of seismic proportions.

Having salvaged a nightmare campaign to at least secure fifth, however, the Reds entered the Europa League for the first time since Klopp’s first season at the club, and have taken the second-tier tournament in their stride.

After dismantling Sparta Prague 11-2 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals, the Czech side’s manager, Brian Priske, summed it up perfectly: “Liverpool is a Champions League team and they should be playing in the Champions League.”

Their strength, and strength in depth, has allowed Klopp to rotate his squad throughout the Europa League while comfortably progressing – which could continue against Atalanta in the quarter-finals.

The same cannot be said of the Champions League, though, and Arsenal and Manchester City’s participation in the quarter-finals of that competition – where they face Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, respectively – could prove a hindrance when it comes to the league.

4. Key players are back – or almost back!

For once, the international break fell kindly for Liverpool, despite 17 players from Klopp’s first-team squad being called up for duty.

A two-week gap between the FA Cup quarter-final loss at Manchester United and the visit of Brighton on Sunday has allowed a number of players to rebuild their fitness and recover from injury.

Chiefly, that includes Mo Salah and Darwin Núñez, who were withdrawn from selection for Egypt and Uruguay, respectively, in order to nurse ongoing issues – and they were able to train throughout.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Alisson are all nearing a comeback, too, while initial scans on Andy Robertson’s ankle suggest the only new injury to stem from the March break is not as severe as first feared.

Adding those key players – who are, it should be stressed, four genuine first-choice starters – to an already-firing squad could be the boost Liverpool need to push through this final furlong on the domestic front.

5. The Klopp factor

And then there is the big intangible.

No one, even those closest to him in the squad, could have predicted the announcement of Klopp’s resignation back in January.

But while it has thrown Liverpool into uncertainty ahead of the summer, it only appears to have strengthened the resolve of his players, who are determined to sign off on this historic era with a bang.

Ask Ibrahima Konaté: “We want to win everything for him, and for us, and for the fans.”

Or Harvey Elliott: “We just want to win everything for him. We want to go into each and every game and treat it as a cup final.”

Or the captain, Virgil van Dijk: “Saying goodbye is not something I look forward to, but we can make it very nice by winning prizes together.”

It has been a steady theme throughout interviews with the Liverpool first team in the months since the shock news of Klopp’s plan to leave in the summer.

And, hiccup at Old Trafford in the cup aside, the evidence suggests it has given the Reds the edge they needed to fight through adversity – and injury – to give the manager a perfect send-off.

(Images from IMAGO)

To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.