Steamrolling Reds
Shearer rules out Liverpool choke en route to first ever Premier League title
LIVERPOOL extended their lead over Manchester City to 14 points over the weekend, leaving Leicester, who are eight points behind, as their only seemingly title contenders. The Reds secured a straightforward 3-0 win at Bournemouth, while City crumbled to a 2-1 defeat at home to bitter rivals Manchester United.
And having seen the Merseysiders coast to yet another three points in style, Newcastle legend and Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer admits there is no way back for the Sky Blues.
Shearer said in his column for The Sun: “Jurgen Klopp’s side have not lost in the league for 33 games, stretching back to January, so they would have to lose five of the remaining 22 for City to have a chance – and that’s not going to happen.
“Liverpool put in the perfect performance at Bournemouth, with every single player excellent throughout.
“They didn’t give them a kick all game and totally dominated – and all with Jurgen Klopp managing to rest big players like Sadio Mane.
“They were solid at the back, creative in midfield and clinical up front.”
Shearer also revealed his disappointment at City’s performance in the Manchester derby on Saturday evening, insisting Pep Guardiola got his tactics completely wrong.
He continued: “At the Etihad on Saturday City paid the price for playing right into United’s hands.
“We all know that their strength is on the counter- attack and in the first half the likes of Marcus Rashford, Dan James, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial ran City ragged.
“I understand Pep Guardiola having belief and confidence in his team but they made life so easy for United.
“I thought they would attack and play their
Jurgen Klopp was thrilled to win first clean sheet in 14 games in all competitions as Liverpool swept Bournemouth aside to extend their unbeaten Premier League streak to 33 games. The bigger picture, of course, is Liverpool edging closer to a first league title in 30 years, with an 11-point gap over Leicester, but now 14 points separating themselves from champions Manchester City. But with Alisson back between the sticks, perhaps the Reds will rediscover their passion for defending, which will prove handy in the closing stretch of games as they hunt down that elusive league title.
JAMIE VARDY already has the record: scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games. The 32-yearold is now inspiring Leicester to an unlikely title challenge once more off the back of scoring in an eighth game in a row – normal game but at least leave one or two extra bodies at the back to shut the door just in case. But there was none of that on show.
“It really is no exaggeration to say United should have scored five, maybe six in the firsthalf.
“City were so open and it looked like they would concede every time United went on the attack.
“In the end, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team had so many good chances we didn’t have time to show them all on Match of the Day.” – Daily
Star
Sky Sports.