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Three reasons why Liverpool’s title race is far from over

By Bence Bocsak

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) shakes hands with Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (L) after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 10, 2019. - Liverpool won the game 3-1. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) shakes hands with Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (L) after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 10, 2019. - Liverpool won the game 3-1. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 10, 2019. – Liverpool won the game 3-1. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 10, 2019. – Liverpool won the game 3-1. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Liverpool’s victory over Manchester City does not mean the Premier League title race is over just yet. It has only just begun…

At Anfield as the floodlights lit up the pitch and Michael Oliver blew his final whistle to confirm a comfortable 3-1 victory for Liverpool, there was a huge roar of utter delight from the Anfield faithful. The Reds had accomplished a monumental margin over their rivals and they did it in comfortable fashion too.

The performance was a mature and measured one. Despite City’s perpetual onslaught at Liverpool’s defence, under the commanding presence of Van Dijk darting across the pitch Liverpool remained strong a resolute.

They blocked and tackled City at every opportunity and frustrated the Blues to minimal clear cut chances.

The Reds were ruthless in attack too, and their finishing was lethal in front of Manchester City’s goal.

But the comfortable victory does not mean Liverpool can rest easy just yet. There have been plenty of twists and turns in the title race in the past and with many games to go, a lot can change before the final game of the season come May.

History

Liverpool will be well aware of their seven point advantage over Manchester City around January of last season which was quickly carved down by the Blues to just four when the two sides faced each other at the Etihad stadium. A run of poor form and Manchester City’s excellent form to juxtapose it ultimately saw the Blues lift the title and Liverpool will be vary that the same can happen again.

In the Premier League’s rich history teams have come back from far larger deficits than nine points. Manchester United came back from an 11 point margin against Arsenal in 1998 when the Gunners had that advantage over them in March. Arsenal five years later in 2003 came back from United having an 8 point lead over them to lift the title at a similar time in March.

With that sort of history and with such a length of time ahead to go in the season, the Premier League is certainly far from over and the possibility for Manchester City to claw back the margin remains.

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