Despite having a lead over Manchester City, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp maintains his team must win all of their remaining Premier League games. Â
With City not playing until Monday, Liverpool may expand their current five-point lead with a win at third-placed Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s side would have two games in hand, but their recent run-in record – they won their last 14 games in 2018-19 to beat their north-west rivals by a point, and dropped only six points in the final 12 matches of 2021-22 to win the title by a single point – means the Reds have no margin for error.
“Should I go to the boys in the dressing room and say, ‘If we win against Arsenal, we will have eight points
“If we lose, we are still two points ahead (assuming City wins their game in hand), but City will be the huge winner in a game in which they are not even involved.
“That is outside chatter, which is OK. Inside, we just concentrate on what we need to do.
“I believe what we’ve learned over the years is that if you want to be around City, you must win all of your football games, because they do. That is all.
“City is dominating right now. They play amazing stuff and would probably consider this not to be their best season, but they are where they are.
“We play a really excellent season and are currently two points
ahead of city. We will attempt to make it as difficult as possible for anyone who wants to complete the season ahead of us.”
While attacker Darwin Nunez is doubtful due to a foot injury, Liverpool are nearly back to full fitness, with only Mohamed Salah (hamstring) and Wataru Endo (Asian Cup) remaining out in the short term.
While Salah’s presence has not been missed in the forward line, the midfield has adapted without Endo, their only genuine defensive midfielder.
Alexis MacAllister has been given the job for the majority of the season to give Endo time to adjust to English football, but the Argentina international is also learning a new role himself.
