Liverpool’s season is entering its crucial final phase and everything is still within their grasp.
Jurgen Klopp continues to reap the rewards of assembling a squad that can challenge for the top honours with the arrivals of Alisson Becker, Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho at a combined cost of £180 million further strengthening an already quality-laden team to challenge for the top honours.
But the prospect of ending a 29-year wait for the league championship is arguably the overriding focus for the Anfield club. If they can win their game in hand, the Reds will again pull clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race. For a third time in their recent history, Liverpool were sitting at the top of the pile on Christmas Day. On the two previous occasions, they were the only side in the past decade not to go on and win the title.
They have continued to keep pace with their North West rivals but it appears to have come at a cost to a Champions League campaign. Klopp’s players blew away everyone on their way to last season’s final but suffered three straight away defeats in the group stages this year. A place in the quarter finals remains up for grabs despite recording a goalless draw in their last 16 first leg tie with Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga holders are currently tipped to progress with the fixture delicately poised.
In Europe and the Premier League, Liverpool are still playing second fiddle to City. Pep Guardiola’s side remain odds-on favourites to win both competitions but the best may be yet to come from their closest challengers for the title. Mohamed Salah continues to lead the way in the goal-scoring charts and aided by a strong supporting cast of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. A long-awaited return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after almost a year out of action promises to add a fresh layer of strength to a midfield where competition has already intensified by Klopp blending a wealth of options including Georginio Wijnaldum and occasionally Shaqiri.
City’s attempt to fight on all fronts shows no signs of fading just yet but it is only a matter of time. Liverpool will be hoping that retaining the league is lower down on their list of priorities than it was just 12 months ago.