If City slip again then it’s all over

I WILL be shocked if Liverpool do not win the Premier League from here — but I am not naive enough to say that the title race is done and dusted.

Maybe it is the Liverpool in me. Maybe it is the hope I have for the club to get over the line. But there is still so long to go, so much can happen.

Liverpool have shown some amazing character, fitness and mental strength but they have not been playing that well. The performance levels are still not where they want to be. They have ridden their luck at times — and deservedly so — including towards the end against Brighton yesterday.

When you think of the Sheffield United game and Dean Henderson’s howler, the last-minute penalty against Leicester, Danny Ings’ missed open goal, the goal disallowed by VAR for Crystal Palace… it makes you think that maybe it is meant to be.

I know that is what champions do, win when they are not playing well, but I would feel more confident in saying it is all wrapped up if they were playing well and were 11 points clear at the top.

Man City have still got some fight in them even if they did throw it away against Newcastle yesterday. They created enough chances but they just keep giving away goals.

I just think that with the Club World Cup coming up this month — and City’s quality — that Liverpool could still go on a dip and City go on a run.

Brendan Rodgers is doing a phenomenal job with Leicester — and I do not think he should consider a move to Arsenal — but I do not see them still being anywhere near Liverpool come the end of the season.

So, it’s not done yet. But it is close. City have to go on that run now and it has to be a run of 10 to 15 games if they have any hope of retaining the title. Another slip and a win for Liverpool and it might, just might, be all over.