HEAD FOR HEIGHTS

We must not give an inch, declares Klopp as Liverpool set up City showdown with a taste of life at top Liverpool 2 Jota 22, Fabinho 89 (pen) Watford 0

IT was an illusion which survived not much more than 45 minutes, by which time Manchester City had taken the lead at Burnley. Nevertheless, in the battle of mind games which characterise the best title duels, it remained a significant moment nonetheless. Liverpool, briefly, were top of the table.

‘We shall not, we shall not be moved,’ chanted the Kop and the fact they were, very shortly after they sung that, did not mean their confidence was overplayed. Momentum is everything in title run-ins and Liverpool undoubtedly have it. Roll on next Sunday and the Etihad title showdown between the two leading teams.

At the end, Jurgen Klopp did his fist-clenched celebration thing in front of the Kop, milking the applause and leading the roars. ‘It was nothing to do with being top of the league,’ said Klopp, wearing his big grin. ‘I didn’t think about that. But we can’t give an inch. To keep in the title race we have to win our games. The next game is a big one, we can’t hide from that.’

No one dreamed of this back in January, when Liverpool were 14 points behind City. They had games in hand but such has been the relentless domination of Liverpool and Manchester City these past five years, that it was hard to conceive Pep Guardiola’s team could concede such a lead.

This is the era of 100 points being normal; a period of history when winning 10 straight Premier League games, as Liverpool have done since the turn of the year, seems almost unremarkable. City, by contrast, have disintegrated. By which we mean they drew at Southampton and Palace and lost to Tottenham.

Klopp (right) can be tetchy at times but here he was all smiles and uber cool. He exudes calm as the most intense weeks of the season loom large. ‘I really appreciate the situation we’re in,’ he said. ‘I said to the boys on Friday, the first time we are all together, if someone had told us in the summer that we in early April [would be] in the situation we are in: in all the competitions, won one trophy and have a full squad available… we all would have taken it. Absolutely.

‘I just feel like this. It’s not like I pretend to be in the mood. I cannot change it. Hopefully the boys will see it similar. It’s not managing the situation or the pressure. If they see the situation as pressure, not sure I can change that. If they see it as an opportunity, that’s the right way to do it.

‘The only better situation would be if we were 20 points ahead of City but that’s not possible and that’s why it’s all fine like it is. We’re not favourites in any of the competitions we are in but who cares? We will try.’

This was not especially convincing. It was very much a case of feel the result, never mind the performance. ‘No doubt about that,’ agreed Klopp. ‘I didn’t expect for one second we would be flying today.’

It was scrappy at times. Liverpool needed some luck and Alisson Becker at his best. Juraj Kucka will look back on his 19th-minute chance, just before Liverpool’s first goal, and wince. Of course, Alisson was marvellous, spreading himself to parry the shot, but clean through on goal, Kucka should not really have given him the chance to be a hero. Similarly, Joao Pedro will rue that when put through with a perfect cut-back from Ismaila Sarr, who himself had been released by the excellent Cucho Hernandez, he got his body shape all wrong and shot wide when presented with a clear opportunity to score.

Watford did not look relegation fodder. And, to be honest, Liverpool did not look like the best team in Europe.

Indeed, only when Kucka rugbytackled Diogo Jota from a corner, to conceded the most pointless penalty given the flight of the ball was never going to reach the Portuguese, and Fabinho confidently converted the penalty in the 89th minute, did Liverpool look truly secure.

International week took its toll. Here was Mo Salah, crestfallen after missing a penalty in midweek that meant Egypt are not at the World Cup, being replaced by Sadio Mane, whose own penalty in the same match ensured Senegal are.

The 12.30 kick-off did not help. The Kop tried to respond to Klopp’s exhortation to bring the noise, but this felt flat. And Watford were good. Cucho’s header at the near

post after 13 minutes was an early sign this could be a tense afternoon. The Kucka chance, which came from a superb Pedro through-ball, caught Liverpool’s defence square.

And then, Liverpool stepped up a gear for a moment, Henderson finding Joe Gomez, who was filling in for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back. The cross he produced after 20 minutes was worthy of Alexander-Arnold, a superb ball directly on to the head of the leaping Jota. Gomez continued in much the same way for the rest of the afternoon, excellent in his role.

Otherwise, Thiago was authoritative and Virgil Van Dijk solid, yet Watford were a persistent thorn in the side while Liverpool were laboured at times. And yet they won. Sometimes you get over the line, move on to the next game and do not over-think the quality of the performance. This was one of those days.

And sometimes, when the title is in your hands and the champagne is flowing, you reflect that these are the most significant days of all.