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

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

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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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola applauds the fans after the final whistle during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images) /

Luck

Manchester City are currently having their worst injury crisis under Guardiola. The long list of superstars who were forced to watch the Liverpool game from the sidelines from Ederson to Otamendi and Laporte almost seems endless for Pep Guardiola right now. Manchester City’s bad luck with injuries has certainly cost the Blues points over the course of the start of the season.

Luck often plays a major part in football. Liverpool seems to have had all the luck coming their way this season with injury time winners and a whole host of players hitting form at just the right time. Even Guardiola has pointed this out in a press conference earlier this month.

Yet that luck could change in an instant.

A long term injury for Virgil Van Dijk could come at a major cost for the Reds and completely derail their good run of form. The same could be said in the case of an injury for the likes of Firmino, Salah and Mane. The absence of Liverpool’s mercurial talent would be detrimental for Liverpool.

The Reds strongly rely on their key players with their style of play fixated on individuals and this may come costly for them especially with their heavy run of fixtures. Their appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup amidst the Christmas period in December could potentially halt their excellent momentum right now and with so many games to be played Liverpool are bound to pick up some injuries along the way.

At the same time, Manchester City have plenty of time to overturn their bad luck and once their injured players return they are bound to hit form once more.

If Liverpool do experience a FIFA Club World Cup hangover, Guardiola’s side will surely capitalise on it, especially as they will have a lot more rest in between their games than the Reds and their fixture list looks a lot more favourable during the Christmas period.

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