Liverpool find themselves in a fierce battle alongside Arsenal and Manchester City for the prestigious Premier League title.
With a fervent desire to clinch the Premier League title this season, Liverpool’s aspirations run high. During the current international break, the Reds are utilising this period before they resume their campaign. Their next match against Brighton on March 31 holds significance as they aim to rebound from their recent loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup.
Under the leadership of Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool occupy the second spot in the Premier League standings, level on points with table-toppers Arsenal. However, Arsenal hold the advantage with a superior goal difference. Trailing closely behind are Manchester City, sitting one point adrift in third place. With each team left with 10 fixtures to play, the race for the title remains fiercely contested.
As the title run-in intensifies in the coming weeks, pundits have been offering their predictions for the campaign in recent months. Concerning Liverpool, several pundits have previously forecasted how they anticipate the Reds’ season unfolding.
Gary Neville
Following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Man City on March 10th, Gary Neville shared his verdict of the title race, emphasising Klopp’s impact on the team as the key factor behind Liverpool’s favourable prospects for success.
“If we just go back to the start of the season, look at what everybody said about Liverpool and what their chances were of winning the title this season,” he said on The Gary Neville podcast on March 10.
“The reason Liverpool are sat there in with a chance of winning the Premier League title is because of him [Klopp].
“Honestly, he has that capability to be able to drag that extra per cent, two per cent, three per cent that not many can, and that’s why he’s one of the great leaders.”
Steve McManaman
Earlier this month, ex-Liverpool player Steve McManaman elucidated why Liverpool might face a more challenging run-in compared to Manchester City and Arsenal. He also outlined the three toughest fixtures awaiting his former club in the final stages of the campaign.
“Possibly. Their most notable hard games will be away to Manchester United and Everton and Tottenham at home,” McManaman told Betfred on March 12, when asked if Liverpool have the easiest remaining fixtures.
“In terms of the league position of their upcoming opponents, then you could say that Liverpool have an easier run-in than Manchester City and Arsenal, but going to Old Trafford is never easy and going away to Goodison Park will be difficult.
“Especially when you consider when it could be rearranged for and whether Everton are in desperate need of points. Their run-in may look best on paper but I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily the easiest.”
Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher addressed Liverpool’s recent draw with Manchester City, discussing the dynamics of the title race and highlighting Arsenal’s burgeoning confidence. The ex-England international emphasised the significance of the upcoming clash between Pep Guardiola’s squad and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on March 31, indicating Liverpool’s keen interest in the outcome.
“It looks like it’s going to go to the wire alongside Arsenal now! If you’re Arsenal and you were watching today, you’re probably thinking that the best possible result for you is a draw,” Carragher told Sky Sports on March 10.
“They have to find the points to beat them but City’s next four or five games are tough – even though Arsenal are on top, I think Liverpool would still rather see them win over City because I think City’s last five or six games of the season will be ones they get maximum points in.
“If they don’t drop points in the next few weeks, I think they’ll be really tough to stop. I think if City beat Arsenal, they will be really strong favourites, I really do. I think if Arsenal go there and get something, I think we’ll have the same conversation, it’s up in the air.
“I do feel like Arsenal and Liverpool would need a three or four-point gap going into the last sort of five or six games of the season if they are to top City.”
Michael Owen
Former Liverpool forward Michael Owen articulated the similarities between Liverpool, Man City, and Arsenal, suggesting that there’s little to differentiate them. Additionally, Owen posited that the team claiming the title this season might not necessarily be the strongest in the league.
“The old analogy that we’ve always been told is that the best team will win the Premier League,” said Owen on the Kelly and Wrighty Show on March 19. “We always get told it. Well, if somebody wins it this year on goal difference or by a point, are we saying they’re the best? I don’t necessarily think the best team are going to win it this year.”
“I think the best team are Manchester City,” Owen added. “I think the most exciting team to watch are probably Liverpool, but the best team they’ve proven it for years and years now are Manchester City. But it won’t necessarily be the best team who win the league. It might be Arsenal.”
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool Star Hints at Anfield Future After Jurgen Klopp’s Departure