Robertson dismisses talk of two-horse race

PREMIER LEAGUE: Scottish defender believes several clubs will challenge for the title

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson believes it would be wrong to assume the Premier League title race is just between themselves and defending champions Manchester City.

A goalless draw at Anfield on Sunday meant the pair, along with Chelsea, are level on 20 points at the top of the table with Pep Guardiola’s side edging ahead courtesy of superior goal difference.

All three have yet to lose a match this season but while Liverpool have been touted as the main challengers to City, Chelsea have shown they deserve to be in the conversation.

Also, just two points behind are Arsenal – after six successive league wins in a run of nine victories in a row in all competitions – and Tottenham.

“We feel we can compete with any team but people seem to be just dismissing other teams and making it a two-horse race, which is not the case,” said the former Dundee United defender.

“We played Chelsea last week, who were excellent. They have been on a great run.

“You see teams like Arsenal with a new manager putting great results together so there is a long way to go and there will be a lot of teams competing but we hope we are one of them.

“We can play a lot better but on days when you are not at your best it is important not to drop points. Against a very good team we managed to do that.”

Defender Joe Gomez was switched back to the right of defence to accommodate Dejan Lovren’s return for his first Premier League appearance of the season after injury.

After some early concern things settled down and Riyad Mahrez’s late missed penalty extended Liverpool’s remarkable run of not conceding a league goal at Anfield to 841 minutes.

West Ham’s Michail Antonio was the last opposition player to find the net there on February 24, a spell of almost nine-and-a-half matches.

Mahrez insists his penalty miss will not damage his confidence.

City’s record signing was entrusted with penalty-taking duties by manager Pep Guardiola – to the frustration of striker Gabriel Jesus – as regular choice Sergio Aguero had been substituted.

The was the fifth spot-kick the Algeria international has missed from his last eight attempts.

“It’s football, it’s life,” said Mahrez, who was making just his third Premier League start since his £60 million summer switch to City.

“It won’t affect me at all. Everyone misses penalties, even big, big players. Of course I wanted to score to help the team to win.”

City had only won once at Anfield since 1981 and that was as far back as 2003.

Mahrez added: “It is part of football, you have to go forward and stay strong.

“Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss. But the most important thing is the performance was very good.”

We feel we can compete with any team but people seem to be just dismissing other teams and making it a twohorse race, which is not the case. ANDY ROBERTSON

Picture: PA.