Liverpool’s title to lose now

13/11/19 5033

Liverpool just keep rolling on after the Reds defeated reigning champions Manchester City 3-1 at Anfield on Sunday. Strikes from Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were enough to see Jurgen Klopp’s team take maximum points, despite a late Bernardo Silva goal threatening to kick start a comeback.

The victory moved the Merseysider’s eight points clear at the top of the table of second-place Leicester and third-place Chelsea, as City slipped to fourth, nine points behind Sunday’s hosts.

City headed into the clash without first-choice goalkeeper Ederson and of course long-term injured centre-back Aymeric Laporte. In truth, it would have been difficult for Pep Guardiola’s team to get anything with a full-strength team, such is Liverpool’s current momentum.

Klopp’s team have now won 11 of their 12 top-flight outings this season and it will be difficult for any team to stop them at the top of the table. However, there is a caveat to that in that they have in recent years been known as a team blows leads in title races.

Last season was the perfect example when they looked set to claim the title only to allow City to nip back in and claim the title.

This season the Reds look more determined to hold on to top spot. There is no room for complacency though, as a poor run of form could allow the chasing pack, especially City, back in to win the title.

The Citizens this season have been poor in defence and it has cost them dearly. The absence of Laporte and the summer exit of the influential Vincent Kompany has made the men from Manchester look highly vulnerable in defence.

Boss Guardiola may need to dip into the transfer market in January to sign defensive reinforcements.

The result on Sunday could be season-defining, but the title race is far from over. There is still plenty of games to play. However, in their current form, it is now Liverpool’s title race to lose.