NO KOP-OUTS AHEAD OF BIG TITLE CRUNCH

AS thoughts turn to a potential titanic tussle in the title race between Liverpool and Manchester City, the Reds can’t take their eyes off the games to come.

Confidence will be high Jurgen Klopp’s men will get back to winning ways after their defeat by Arsenal (above), as they welcome Burnley to Anfield on Saturday.

Rightly so, given the opposition are relegation battlers and the Reds haven’t lost a domestic game at home since October 2022.

City face Everton in the lunchtime kick-off, so can go top before Liverpool and Arsenal kick a ball and their game in hand means they are front runners.

But the fact City come to Anfield on March 10 means Liverpool have control of matters too. The job is to get to that game with four wins from four.

Klopp said before facing Arsenal that Liverpool needed to win every game to ensure the title but that was a little hyperbolic. It’s unlikely City, Liverpool and Arsenal will be perfect until May 19.

The fact Liverpool face City and Arsenal take on Pep Guardiola’s side means points will be lost.

But the Reds’ challenge is to ensure no slip-ups before meeting City, so beating the champions puts them in pole position.

Given Burnley’s form, this weekend should be a chance to prove the Arsenal game was just a bad day at the office.

But then there’s a tricky trip to Brentford.

The Bees beat the Reds on their own patch in one of the worst displays by Klopp’s side last term. This is a refreshed outfit, but it still won’t be an easy game.

Luton then visit Anfield which, given their form, will present a challenge – just ask Newcastle.

Then Forest away. A side struggling near the bottom but which has taken points from Newcastle, Aston Villa and Man Utd under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Add in a Carabao Cup final against Chelsea and an FA Cup fifth-round tie and it’s a busy, and crucial, few weeks.

Lost points in one or two games may not be a disaster for Liverpool’s hopes of finishing Klopp’s reign with title No.20.