City get the chance to cement their lead
Klopp’s side also remains positive
London – Having reeled Liverpool in, champions Manchester City have a chance to start turning the screw on Juergen Klopp’s side as they host Watford tomorrow, a day before their stuttering title rivals play Burnley.
Only a few weeks ago Liverpool appeared firmly in the driving seat with a first English title since 1990 tantalisingly within reach, but four draws in their last six matches opened the door for Pep Guardiola’s side.
City have not been shy in barging through it and five successive league victories have taken them a point clear with both sides having nine games left to play.
Victory over a Watford side, smashed 5-0 by Klopp’s side on their last away outing, would give them some daylight and heap pressure on Liverpool to get all three points against a Burnley side scrapping to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Klopp was defiant after Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Everton left City above them for the first time since December with both teams having played the same number of games.
“We are positive – how couldn’t we be positive?” Klopp said this week.
“There is a lot to come and a lot of games to play. The dynamic [at the top of the table] changed a little bit – now we are second, they are first.”
With Liverpool’s fabled attacking trident of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino struggling to click, the Anfield faithful will be encouraged by the news that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is nearing full fitness.
While the title race looks set to go to the wire, the battle for third and fourth and Champions League qualification is equally exciting with Manchester United’s stunning revival under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer upsetting the applecart.
The former Norway striker appears to have arrived toting a magic wand. On Wednesday they beat Paris St Germain 3-1 away to reach Champions League quarterfinals.
Fixtures
(5pm unless stated)
Tomorrow: Crystal Palace v Brighton; Newcastle v Everton; Cardiff v West Ham; Leicester v Fulham; Southampton v Tottenham; Huddersfield v Bournemouth; Man City v Watford, 7.30pm
Sunday: Liverpool v Burnley, 2pm; Chelsea v Wolves, 4pm; Arsenal v Man United, 6.30pm. – Reuters
There is [still] a lot of games to play