Champions don’t fire blanks when the pressure is on
IF LIVERPOOL do not win the Premier League, they will look back on this as the day they blew it. Their defence — led by Virgil van Dijk — deserve to be champions. This was their 19th clean sheet of the season and the first time since 2006 Liverpool have gone five games in a row without conceding. It is their forwards who are letting them down. Liverpool’s best chances at Goodison Park fell to Mo Salah, but he seems to have lost his golden touch at just the wrong time. When your team are solid at the back but misfiring up front, as a defender you are filled with despair. I remember going to Leeds in May 1999 when Arsenal were battling Manchester United for the title. As we kept missing a succession of chances, the realisation grew it was not to be our year. We lost 1-0 to a late goal and United went on to win the league. With Manchester City hit by injuries and only narrowly winning their last two matches, it was essential Liverpool piled on the pressure. Instead they opened the door. When Pep Guardiola’s teams get their noses in front with nine games to go, they do not look back. His players will go into training knowing that all their hard graft was worth it. Liverpool’s solidity has kept them in touching distance. They may relish the chance to be hunters once more and I can still see this race going to the wire. But this morning, City will feel the Premier League is theirs to lose.