- As Man City triumph 2-1 at Etihad
Table toppers Liverpool missed the chance to prematurely end the Premiership title race, but still have every reason to be confident as they continue to hold all the aces.
After Sergio Aguero produced some world-class forward play to open scores for the hosts, Liverpool deservedly equalized through Roberto Firmino before Leroy Sane’s individual brilliance made the difference and saw City reopening the title race
Heading into Thursday’s top of the log clash with Champions Manchester City at Etihad Stadium, the Reds had seemed well-oiled on their way to a first league title since the 1989-90 season.
With a game in hand, Liverpool found themselves six points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur while City trailed by seven points. A win would pretty much have decided the title race in the first week of January.
Yet after the final whistle at the Etihad, whispers of an imminent title collapse quickly started to spread again as Liverpool were narrowly beaten 2-1.
Going into the match, City’s Manager Pep Guardiola said proceedings would be decided in the boxes and on a night of frenzied attacking and defending, it was his men who came out on top smoking
“Everyone is talking about if we lose, but what happens if we win?” said a defiant Pep Guardiola in the build-up to Thursday’s huge clash.
With the result, City are now alive and kicking and, if pundits are already upbeat that the title race is now more than open.
For the Anfield side, the dramatic ending to the 2013-14 campaign is still fresh in the minds of their ardent supporters and that ugly memories will not be erased easily. Five years ago with a mere three games to go, Liverpool were so close to the title, yet one slip from Steven Gerrard, leading to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, and an eventful 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace eventually saw City snatched the League trophy at the end of that season.
Could that nightmare repeat itself this term? Is another spectacular title collapse on the horizon? Simply put, no, there is absolutely nothing to suggest that might be the case.
There is no denying that the loss to City may dampen morale, yet it should not come as a huge surprise to Jurgen Klopp and his men. The reigning champions are a superb side and seemed the team to beat this term until a poor run of form in December saw them drop to third place in the table.
So, for Liverpool, games against Brighton, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, West Ham and Bournemouth should all be winnable, before their trips to Manchester United and Everton at the end of February and start of March.
Though a win over Manchester City would have hugely boosted their title chances, but that does not mean this defeat is the beginning of the end.
Instead, we have a title race on our hands and Liverpool still hold all the cards in their own hands.
Trailing by ‘only’ four points, City are up and running again. But is it time for the Reds’ supporters to press the panic bottom? Certainly not; why would they? – Additional reports from Goal.com
