Clash of the giants to set course of title race
AN EARLY November top-of-thetable clash of two heavyweights this weekend may set the course of this season’s Premier League title race.
Leaders Liverpool host secondplaced Manchester City on Sunday looking to land a major blow in their quest for a first league title since 1990.
Unbeaten Liverpool have been far and away the league’s best team, winning 10 of their 11 games to open a six-point lead over the twotime defending champions.
City’s title defence hasn’t gone as smoothly as expected as they’ve lost twice already and are actually closer to third place than first.
The maths are simple, City could find themselves either three points or nine points back come Sunday night.
History bodes well for Liverpool, who have lost just one of their last 28 top-flight home matches against City and also have a record 21 wins versus a reigning English champions.
City won and drew last season’s meetings en route to pipping Liverpool by one point for the title.
But the way the Reds are currently playing is giving them confidence.
“I think this weekend is going to be a big, big game, “Liverpool forward Divock Origi said.
With both coaches concentrating on midweek Champions League matches they had little to say about this battle, though Guardiola did manage to fire off a shot at Liverpool’s Sadio Mane.
“Sometimes he’s diving, sometimes he has this talent to score incredible goals in the last minute,” Guardiola said. “He’s a talent.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wasn’t buying it and countered with a dig of his own concerning City’s perceived way of stopping opposing attacks.
“I am not sure if Pep spoke in that moment about Sadio or the team – both is not too nice to be honest,” he said.
“I am not too sure if I want to put oil on the fire. I am not interested in these kind of things.
“And I promise not to mention tactical fouls. That is maybe already too much.”
The chase for the other top-four spots also continues when surprising third-placed Leicester City, just two points behind Man City, host Arsenal.
Leicester are six points clear of the fifth-placed Gunners so a win would give a major boost to their quest for Champions League qualification.
Chelsea, fourth behind Leicester on goal difference, look to make it six straight league wins against Crystal Palace.
At the opposite end of the table, last-placed Watford seek their their first win when they visit secondbottom Norwich City today.
“When you don’t win there is no good feeling but it’s up to us to change this,” Watford’s Christian Kabasele said.
West Ham visit Burnley, Newcastle host Bournemouth, Everton are at Southampton, Tottenham take on Sheffield United, Manchester United welcome Brighton and Aston Villa travel to Wolverhampton in the other games. |