Liverpool and Manchester City have got entangled in an epic title-race this season, and the ultimate winner might be determined on the last matchday. After their 2-0 win over Manchester United last night, City now have 89 points from 35 matches, whereas Liverpool has 88 points from the same number of matches.
That difference of one point might turn out to be vital, and City would win the league if they manage to beat each of Burnley, Leicester, and Brighton, their upcoming opponents. However, any slip-up on City’s part would allow Liverpool to go ahead, provided they manage to win their own remaining matches.
We now take a look at the 3 factors which might determine the ultimate winner this season.
#1 Liverpool’s depth
Man City are known for their enviable bench-strength, but it is the depth in Liverpool’s squad that is going to be vital in the next few weeks. City is already out of the UEFA Champions League, but Liverpool has reached the semifinal and will face Barcelona next week.
Quite naturally, Jurgen Klopp would want his team to be devoid of any fitness issues when they face Barca. Liverpool had reached the final of the Champions League last season but lost to Real Madrid.
The Reds would naturally want to beat Barca and win their first Champions League title since 2005. However, for that to happen, they need to be at full-strength. Therefore Klopp might want to play some of his reserve players against the likes of Huddersfield in the Premier League.
So the likes of Divock Origi, Adam Lallana, and Joel Matip need to be match-fit and ready to contribute when it matters the most.
#2 The performance of City’s upcoming opponents
Man City has some tricky opponents ahead in the next few weeks. They have an away match against Burnley, who have 40 points and are at the 15th position at the moment. They also drew with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Monday. Burnley have a solid defence, and it would not be easy for City to score against them.
Moreover, City also has another match against Leicester City who won the league in 2015-16. They have a new manager in Brendan Rogers, the former Liverpool boss.
Quite naturally, Pep Guardiola would take note and prepare his team accordingly for the ties against Burnley and Leicester.
#3 The performance of Liverpool’s upcoming opponents
Liverpool’s upcoming matches are also against some difficult opponents. They are scheduled to play against Huddersfield, Newcastle, and Wolves. Newcastle is a decent team, with former Liverpool boss, Rafael Benitez, in charge.
They are at the 13th position on the league table. Wolves are in the top half of the table and actually beat Arsenal yesterday. However, Liverpool would still fancy their chances against them.
However, nothing can be taken for granted in sports, and Liverpool would still have to score and win games against those opponents if they are to win the title after 29 years. Their supporters will keep fingers crossed, as the club might win two of football’s biggest prizes in the next month or so.
[Sportskeeda]
