Tiring Reds won’t give up the fight
Klopp’s players defiant despite Spurs setback
THE talk was typically bullish and only to be expected. There was no concession of the title, no indication they felt their race had been run.
Liverpool may have dropped Premier League points at Anfield for the first time in six months — Brighton, on October 30, had been the last team to leave with anything to show for their efforts — but there was still belief that the title could be landed.
‘We try until the end,’ stressed midfielder Fabinho. ‘We know if we lose points in the fight against Man City, maybe it can cost the title. We didn’t win but there were positive things and we are still alive. It’s not easy playing every three days but we are fighting.’
The spirit of Jurgen Klopp’s side is beyond doubt but there were moments during an absorbing contest that, correctly, finished honours even.
Drawing with Antonio Conte’s superbly-drilled team will hurt, but so did Manchester City striking twice in added time yesterday, to significantly improve their goal difference. There was a point when it seemed Liverpool had a hand on City’s shoulders, now they are slightly out of reach and there will be an emotional and physical toll.
So how does Klopp go about addressing that? Does he continue with his ‘A’ team at Villa Park tomorrow — the forward line of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz, the midfield of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago — knowing they need four goals to move back on top of the table?
Or does he make a number of changes, knowing that another failure to win — and you really shouldn’t underestimate how determined Steven Gerrard will be to rouse Villa against his boyhood club — and the title will almost certainly be gone?
Another consequence is what happens if Liverpool drain themselves in Birmingham for no reward — does that jeopardise their hopes of winning the FA Cup for the first time in 15 years?
The equations are complex and it was no wonder Klopp looked a little frazzled.
‘We will try to prepare as soon as possible and be ready for Villa, which will be tough as well,’ said Klopp. ‘We have to deal with it — but we will. The boys are in the mood they should be — very disappointed — but that is fine.’
It is a curious situation, trying to find a critique about a team that is unbeaten in the league since December and has taken 42 points from the last 48, but the standards City have set mean there has been no margin for error.
If, as is looking increasingly likely, City go on and finish the job, they could regard it as their greatest domestic triumph to withstand the assault Liverpool have launched. The two teams got more points in 2018-19 but the ferocity of this duel — and the standards set have been higher.
Tottenham deserved the lead that Son Heung-min secured and their efforts were summed up by outstanding defending, led by Cristian Romero and Ben Davies, who threw himself at a Salah shot as if his life depended on it.
‘We were determined not to concede,’ said Davies. ‘Even the goal, to concede a deflected goal is sometimes tough to take. You know you’re going to have to defend and I think we did that well.’
They did and they will tackle Arsenal now with a sense of belief that they can pilfer the final Champions League spot. Conte will ensure that, tactically, his team will be spot on for the contest and his presence on the touchline may yet prove the difference.
‘It has been building up to this for a while,’ said Davies. ‘Ever since it got postponed (in January) we were looking to when this game would come because we knew it would be important in the context of the season. We know what we have to do going into it. There’s no hiding from that.’