Look at last November... you’ll see why today is so crucial to title race
YOU may think I’m crazy for saying it, but Liverpool’s visit to the Etihad today could be a pivotal moment in the title race.
For me, it proved that way last season when Manchester City came to Anfield.
In fact, November was absolutely central to the Reds becoming champions – I think it was the month when they found the absolute belief they could be worthy winners of the Premier League.
It was a massive, massive month for them.
They won every Premier League game, ensured they progressed in the Champions League... and showed incredible resilience, which was the key to lifting the title.
There were two late goals at Aston Villa, with the sort of character that made you sit up and take notice.
Another late goal at Palace and a huge 3-1 defeat of City.
People may say it was far too early in November to decide anything, but Liverpool already had a lead at the top by then and I think that win – and it was a comprehensive victory – proved to themselves they were stronger.
It was too much for City. If they had won, it would have cut Liverpool’s lead at the top to three points. Instead, it went out to nine – and City never recovered.
It’s remarkably similar this season, but this time Pep Guardiola’s team are at home. If City win, the gap will be two points... if they lose, eight.
Whichever way it goes, it will have a massive psychological effect.
I’d go back to the idea of November being pivotal, too.
It has always seemed a big month in Liverpool’s history – and a particularly bad one when I was playing there. In 1995, we didn’t win a single game in November, lost at home to Everton, went out of the League Cup (and also went out of the UEFA Cup, though that was October 31). It absolutely killed our season.
In 1997 we lost at home to Barnsley and then Manchester United and also went out of the UEFA Cup again… and once more that was us done for the season.
This November, Liverpool play City and Leicester either side of the international
break – so that will tell us a lot about where the contenders are at. But I believe in the end it will come down to a fight between City and Liverpool again.
There have been questions about both. How will Liverpool cope without Virgil van Dijk? Are City the team they were after looking vulnerable in some games?
It depends on who is better prepared, which boss has the tactical edge.
People say Pep Guardiola is obsessed with Liverpool.
So you see him worrying and muttering about Klopp’s team in that documentary, but I’ll bet he did the same with Burnley or Southampton. Just that it didn’t make for such good viewing, so was cut.
I don’t think Jurgen is obsessed with Pep either. I think they respect each other, but they relish the challenge.
I went into every game thinking I would get the better of whoever I was playing against. Believed it completely.
And I think Klopp and Guardiola are like that. They test themselves, they don’t fear that challenge.
Both will believe they will win – and that makes it an incredible contest that will have a huge say in the title race.
And one, like the US election until yesterday, proved very close to call.