KLOPP’S MADE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF HIS ANFIELD CAREER
Letting Clyne leave on loan could cost Liverpool title
A BLIP... OR ARE LIVERPOOL COMING OFF THE RAILS?
REDKNAPP: I would rather be in Liverpool’s position but there are issues, particularly at right back.
With Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold injured, why would you let Nathaniel Clyne go to Bournemouth? Jordan Henderson and James Milner have had to fill in at right back.
How many times did West Ham attack down Milner’s wing? They targeted him and Leicester did the same to Henderson last week.
KEOWN: It reminds me of Arsenal when we lost our lead at the top to Manchester United in 2003. Injuries cost us and it gave our opponents a lift. Liverpool miss Alexander-Arnold’s freedom. Without Milner and Henderson in midfield, they played it too safe at West Ham. While it was a bad result, they did not lose. When Manchester City had an off-day, they were beaten by Newcastle. Monday was a huge let-off. Liverpool are suffering a dip but that can be rectified.
SUTTON: Liverpool’s lack of depth is alarming. Letting Clyne leave on loan — with no ability to recall him — is the biggest mistake Klopp has made at Liverpool. It could cost them the title.
Milner did a valiant job at right back but Liverpool missed his influence in midfield. Neither Adam Lallana nor Naby Keita turned up at West Ham, but they weren’t the only ones. How many times did Roberto Firmino misplace passes?
This was one of Liverpool’s worst performances so far. They were vulnerable at set-pieces and toothless in attack. Bournemouth on Saturday is huge. Liverpool need a convincing win. Clyne will not be involved as he cannot play against his parent club. How Klopp must wish he could call him down from the stands!
HAVE CITY GOT THEIR SWAGGER BACK?
REDKNAPP:
Ask me again after they have faced Everton and Chelsea. They have recently lost to Newcastle and I don’t buy the argument that Pep Guardiola pulled off a tactical masterstroke to beat Arsenal. City beat a poor team. You do not radically change your team and shape if all is well.
Both City and Liverpool have started to panic recently. They must be relieved that Manchester United are so far behind.
Where City have the advantage is that they can throw a fresh Kevin De Bruyne — the best midfielder in the league — into a title race.
KEOWN: It was a masterstroke! Guardiola went back to the drawing board and devised a new plan with Fernandinho floating between defence and midfield. City will be energised by beating Arsenal.
The pendulum has swung back their way and now they can get their noses in front. Deep down, though, the players know the title is not in their hands.
SUTTON: Liverpool fans will point to the fact City have lost games against teams you’d expect them to beat. Both sides have shown vulnerability. City are fighting on four fronts but have the squad to cope. They have been handed an easier Champions League draw, playing Schalke. If Liverpool want to win the league, do they sacrifice Europe? I’m not saying that would be the right thing to do, but the squad is stretched.
WHICH BOSS IS BETTER AT HANDLING THE PRESSURE?
REDKNAPP: For me, it’s more about how the players handle it. City players have been there and done it. Liverpool haven’t won the title for 29 years and that will weigh heavily on their shoulders. I felt that burden. When you are fighting at the top and fall a goal behind, the atmosphere becomes edgy.
I also remember when Blackburn came to Anfield on the final day with the title up for grabs in 1995. You could see they had gone. We beat them playing at half-pace.
West Ham’s draw with Manchester United meant Blackburn got the job done, but they stumbled over the finishing line. To win this title, you need a little luck.
KEOWN: Klopp appeared a little frantic on Monday. I just hope that the pressure does not suffocate him and his players.
Winning this trophy shapes the rest of your life. You can call yourself a champion. You become part of the fabric of your club. But until you have won that first title, there is always an element of doubt. You have to shut everything out and take it game by game.
It is interesting that despite this being such a close race, neither Klopp nor Guardiola has engaged in mind games. If Sir Alex Ferguson was in Guardiola’s shoes, he would have made a point of Liverpool dropping points.
SUTTON: You cannot compare Liverpool now to Blackburn in 1995. The pressure got to us with six games to go… not with a third of the season left. I scored the winner at QPR to put us eight points clear with six to play. We thought we had the title sewn up and ended up winning it by a point. For the first time on Monday, I saw signs Klopp was starting to crack. It was staggering that he should focus on the referee when Liverpool’s goal should have been ruled out. After losing at Newcastle, Guardiola could have pointed to the disallowed Sergio Aguero goal but only talked about the display. Most alarming was Klopp’s admission that his players did not enjoy the game at West Ham. If you can’t enjoy the challenge, then you are finished. Guardiola has the better poker face.
WHO IS EACH TEAM’S MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER?
REDKNAPP: Virgil van Dijk (left) is
Liverpool’s. He has not been quite the same leader in recent weeks but has lost his centre-back partner Gomez and right back AlexanderArnold to injury.
Fernandinho is City’s most important player. They lost to Palace and Leicester without him.
KEOWN: Van Dijk and Fernandinho. Van Dijk is usually so calm, but was too casual at West Ham. Even he needs to go up another gear. Fernandinho is the one player City cannot live without. He was the key to Guardiola’s plan to overwhelm Arsenal.
SUTTON: An injury to Van Dijk now would kill off Liverpool’s bid. City are not as reliant on any individual — they have at least two quality players in every outfield position — but Fernandinho is a huge loss when he does not play.
REDKNAPP: If City can win it then why not Tottenham? Their hopes hinge on how quickly Harry Kane and Dele Alli return.
KEOWN: What Tottenham are doing is remarkable. They are still living out of a suitcase at Wembley!
Spurs will have a huge say in who walks away with the trophy. They still have to go to the Etihad and Anfield.
SUTTON: They have to be contenders, though I do not fancy their chances. I have a feeling they will be kicking themselves for not strengthening in January.
REDKNAPP: City are favourites now... but I still think Liverpool will win it. If they do, it will only be by a couple of points.
KEOWN: I have backed Liverpool to win the league all season, but these next few weeks will be their biggest examination so far.
SUTTON: I fancy City. I hope the wheels do not come off Liverpool but there were some worrying signs on Monday. This is going down to the wire… with City to win it on goal difference.