Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson says Liverpool’s title challenge could be in tatters if they fail to pick up results in their next two league fixtures.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have games in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup before playing Chelsea at home on Wednesday week. However, after facing the Blues, they take on fellow title contenders Arsenal and Merson says there’s a distinct possibility that, if they lose at the Emirates, their chances of finishing top of the table could be irreparably damaged:
“The difference between City, Liverpool and Arsenal is City can go for 10 wins in a row and nobody will pay any attention to it. If Liverpool and Arsenal do it, it’s a big thing. And it could all be over for Liverpool in the title race in one week. They play Chelsea at home — you have no idea which Chelsea is going to turn up.”
“Chelsea can play, so that’s a hard game. Then Liverpool go Arsenal away, and if it goes like the way the FA Cup game went then Arsenal will win that game. Before you know it, it’s all over for Liverpool.”
Merson is exaggerating slightly
It’s fair to say that Merson is being rather sensationalist with his comments. If they do lose against Arsenal and drop points to Chelsea, it would definitely hand Manchester City a major advantage.
It wouldn’t, though, end their title hopes. City are still five points behind (albeit with a game in hand), so there still wouldn’t be much of a gap between the two teams if the Reds do suffer a couple of setbacks.
It will be a defining two weeks for Liverpool
With a place in the Carabao Cup final at stake, an FA Cup fourth-round tie and two high-profile league matches, it will be a very testing couple of weeks for Klopp’s men.
If they come through it unscathed, it will demonstrate that they are capable of competing on all fronts.
