Man City know better than anyone why Liverpool are still their real title rivals – Joe Bray

There was an air of celebration on social media in Manchester on Thursday evening when Burnley held on for a memorable win over Liverpool.

Burnley grew to become the primary crew to beat Liverpool at Anfield in 69 Premier League video games, extending the champions’ run to 4 video games with out a aim.

The midweek wins for Manchester City and Manchester United noticed them each lengthen their lead over Jurgen Klopp’s males, with United six away from Liverpool, and Metropolis in a position to transfer seven clear in the event that they win their recreation in hand.

It is a utterly totally different Premier League desk to the one earlier than Christmas, the place attracts with Liverpool and West Brom had Metropolis in ninth, eight factors behind leaders Liverpool – who moved three factors clear on the high themselves.

Metropolis deserve immense credit score for the 12 level swing over Liverpool in simply six video games, though Klopp’s males have hit one thing of a rut, with out a win of their final 5.

There might be loads of soul looking out at Anfield after that run was prolonged this week, and so they face two robust journeys subsequent to United within the cup and Tottenham within the league. Any notion that Liverpool are out of the title race, although, shouldn’t enter the minds of anybody at Metropolis.

Firstly, as a result of if Liverpool of all sides can go 5 with out a win, then so can any facet. The momentum on the high has swung numerous instances already this season, and it’ll swing once more. If Liverpool had been to deal with their stoop, beat Metropolis in February, and go on a prolonged unbeaten run, there can be no surprises from anybody who has adopted the Premier League within the final three seasons.

When Liverpool welcome again their injured gamers like Virgil Van Dijk, Diogo Jota and Joe Gomez, they are going to be strengthened and be a tougher facet to beat. It is solely a matter of time earlier than Sadio Mane and Mo Salah begin firing once more, and Thiago Alcantara’s kind seems to be central to their capacity to show their fortunes round.

In 2018/19, Liverpool had been seven factors clear on the New 12 months stage after 20 video games. If Metropolis had been to win their recreation in hand this season, they might transfer seven clear, but their comeback that season to pip Liverpool to the title within the ultimate week reveals how that hole will not be sufficient to rule them out of any race.

Have a look at final season, too, the place Metropolis began slowly however had been by no means given an opportunity to catch the unstoppable Liverpool machine, who received and received and received till any dropped factors had been insignificant. They know methods to get a successful run collectively, and should not be dominated out of doing so within the second half of this season.

Given the selection of being 4 forward with a recreation in hand, or down in fourth, Metropolis would clearly select the previous possibility. As Pep Guardiola says, although, league place will not be necessary at this stage of the season, performances are. When Liverpool rediscover their kind, they are going to be trying to verify anybody celebrating from final evening are made to remorse it.

You could be sure there have been no celebrations on the Etihad. They know higher than that.