Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville says Liverpool have the “Klopp factor” as well as momentum and energy that will aid their chances of winning the Premier League title.
A 99th-minute winner from Darwin Nunez against Nottingham Forest at the weekend has kept the Reds top of the table and, comparing the club’s title prospects to rivals Arsenal and Manchester City, Neville said:
“Liverpool have got momentum and energy – and the Klopp factor. Arsenal at this moment are the best-performing team, defensively and they’ve now started to hit their stride in attack.”
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“City have got the most experience. All three have got something.”
Results between the three clubs could prove decisive
Liverpool take on City in their next league fixture on Sunday, and Neville rightly suggests that Jurgen Klopp’s side must “beat them” in order to secure top spot this season.
The Reds need to create a gap between themselves and the reigning champions who don’t usually drop points during the run-in. Of course, even if they draw against the Cityzens, Arsenal could replace them in first on goal difference (as long as they beat Sheffield United and Brentford). The Gunners, though, still have to face Pep Guardiola’s team at the Etihad.
Liverpool need to get senior players back fit and available
Klopp is trying to win games with one hand tied behind his back at the moment, with no less than nine players on the treatment table.
The nearest to making his comeback is Mo Salah, with the Egyptian international likely to be in the matchday squad against City after recovering from a tight hamstring. Curtis Jones is also set to return in the next couple of weeks.
Others, such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Ryan Gravenberch, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara won’t be available before the next international break. Joel Matip is already ruled out for the rest of the campaign with an ACL injury.
David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World’s Football News Network.