Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s manager, feels his team is under pressure to win every remaining Premier League games this season, as an eight-point lead over Manchester City is insufficient.
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 tell the players in the locker room that if we win against Arsenal, we will have an eight-point lead over them?” “Everyone knows that,” added the German, whose squad has only lost once in the league.
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 really involved.
“That is outside chatter, which is OK. Inside, we just concentrate on what we need to do.
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 are having a very successful season and are currently two points ahead of City.
And, while Salah’s presence has not been missed in the forward line, the midfield has managed without Endo, their only genuine defensive midfielder.
Alexis MacAllister has been saddled with the job for the majority of the season to allow Endo to adjust to English football, but the Argentina international is also learning a new role.
