LIVERPOOL SLIP

Draw with West Ham cuts lead to just three points

London, Feb. 5: Jurgen Klopp pinpointed a mounting injury list as the explanation for Liverpool’s sub- par performance in a 1- 1 draw at West Ham on Monday that leaves the league leaders just three points clear of Manchester City.

Less than a week after missing the opportunity to go seven points clear of City with a 1- 1 draw against Leicester, Liverpool again let a lead slip as Michail Antonio quickly cancelled out Sadio Mane’s 22nd minute opener.

Victory over Everton on Wednesday will now take City to the top of the table, while Tottenham are just five points off the top in third.

It could have been even worse for Liverpool had Declan Rice and Mark Noble not failed to hit the target with huge chances to claim all three points for West Ham.

Klopp was without the injured Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander- Arnold meaning James Milner started in an unfamiliar role at right- back, while the German was forced to name an experimental midfield three of Fabinho, Naby Keita and Adam Lallana.

After posting a perfect record against opposition outside the top six in their first 23 league games, Liverpool have now slipped up twice in as many matches to mount the tension in their chase for a first title in 29 years.

However, Klopp played down suggestions it is the pressure and the weight of history that has dragged his players down over the past week. — AFP Sadio Mane ( centre) of Liverpool and West Ham’s Ryan Fredericks ( right) vie for the ball during the English Premier League match at the London Stadium on Monday. AFP — AP