See reasons why City could win the league ahead of Liverpool

See reasons why City could win the league ahead of Liverpool

Following their big win against Newcastle United, Liverpool are now the league leaders ahead of the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal who have being in this position in the earlier beginning of the season.

 

 

Many people are now tagging Liverpool to win this season’s league especially as Manchester have not been impressive with their recent form.

 

However, talking about who is more chanced to win the league between Liverpool and City, there is high probability that the Pep Guardiola will win it again this season and below are the reasons:

 

First, pivotal players like Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Kevin Debruyne are returning and this means more reinforcement for the Cityzens.

 

 

Secondly, the most important for Liverpool which is Mohammed Salah is going to feature for Egypt in the coming African Cup of Nations and this may mean a dent in the Liverpool’s attacking line, thereby reducing their chances of winning matches before he comes back.

 

Talking about AFCON, Manchester City literally don’t have any player featuring in the competition and this means more advantage for them.

 

 

 

Liverpool owe M. Salah another Premier League trophy – G. Neivel

 

Liverpool under the reign of Jurgen Klopp, have become a very different animal compared to the past Liverpool teams of previous generations. But that being considered, aside winning the club a first premier league title in 30 years, Jurgen Klopp’s team haven’t really shadowed past generations of the club’s teams.

 

 

It can be even debated that Rafa Benitez was closest to achieving that feat in his time as the club’s manager, and could have done so if the club’s then owners, Hicks and Gillet had kept that team together for 2 more seasons. After all, Rafa Benitez, while with a stringent budget, even more so than Klopp, won a Champions League title, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, the Community Shield, while also leading Liverpool as runners up in the League Cup, Club World Cup and the Champions League.

 

In essence, Benitez won half of what Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool won in less time than Klopp himself at Liverpool.

 

This isn’t hyping up Rafa Benitez’s achievements with the Reds or writing off Klopp’s team’s achievements either, but on paper, Klopp had high profile players to work with for an extended period of time than Benitez ever had the opportunity to.

 

 

And with less to show for it, much sooner than later will the narratives fall on why players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson did not win more titles under Klopp’s Liverpool than their quality states on paper.

 

Liverpool.com – Latest Liverpool FC news, opinion and more

Of course, arguments can be made for how dominant Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have been, but there is also the debate that did Klopp and his Liverpool team do more to achieve themselves the glory they should have siezed?

 

Liverpool beat Newcastle 4-2 to go three points clear at the top of the league

Mohamed Salah scored twice on his last appearance before heading to AFCON

Erling Haaland has 15 Premier League goals, Mo Salah has 12… Bukayo Saka has just six. Arsenal are crying out for a striker – Listen to

 

Liverpool beat Newcastle 4-2 at Anfield on Monday night to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

 

 

Mohamed Salah – on his last appearance before heading off to AFCON with Egypt – looked set for a difficult night after he saw his first half penalty saved by Martin Dubrakva.

 

He made amends to put his side ahead before Alexander Isak equalised. Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo put the Reds in control but Sven Botman threatened a Newcastle comeback.

 

However, Salah made up for his earlier error by netting on his second attempt from the spot and Jurgen Klopp’s side started 2024 with a victory.

 

 

Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE was at Anfield and looks at some things you might have missed from Monday’s match.

 

Liverpool beat Newcastle 4-2 to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League

Liverpool beat Newcastle 4-2 to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League

 

Could getting Beck back ease Reds’ injury crisis?

Liverpool wasted no time in making some January additions to their squad, albeit not in the traditional way.

 

The Reds recalled full-back Owen Beck from his loan spell at Dundee on Monday, following the decision to cut short Fabio Carvalho’s stint at RB Leipzig.

 

Carvalho will be sent out on loan again, with Championship high-flyers Southampton and Leicester keen. Liverpool are also set to recall Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams from moves that have not worked out at Celtic and Aberdeen.

 

 

Beck, though, faces more of an uncertain future, with the 21-year-old Welshman excelling north of the border and a potential alternative to injured full-backs Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas. Robertson faces a battle to play this month but is back on the training pitch.

 

Liverpool recalled young left back Owen Beck from Dundee and he could feature this month

Liverpool recalled young left back Owen Beck from Dundee and he could feature this month

 

Morton pays his respects

Despite a few disappointing loan moves for Liverpool’s young talents this season, no one can doubt the ability of their midfielder Tyler Morton.

 

The England Under 21s star, on loan at Hull, laid a commemorative wreath at the Hillsborough memorial as the Tigers played at Sheffield Wednesday, before his day was ruined by a ludicrous red card in a 3-1 loss.

 

 

Joelinton takes one for the team

 

Joelinton occupied some interesting positions, with the Brazilian shifted to a left-wing role by Eddie Howe.

 

It seemed to be a defensive move, with the Brazilian stalking Trent Alexander-Arnold.

 

The man-marking role is rarely seen in football these days but Joelinton went some way to stemming Alexander-Arnold’s threat in attack.

 

Joelinton was tasked with the lesser-spotted man-marking role on Trent Alexander-Arnold

Joelinton was tasked with the lesser-spotted man-marking role on Trent Alexander-Arnold

 

Brazilian legends return to Anfield

Two other Brazilians were at Anfield on Monday night, with former Liverpool heroes Roberto Firmino and Fabinho attending a match for the first time since their summer moves to Saudi Arabia.

 

Firmino’s exit was premeditated, as explained in his recent autobiography Si Senor, but Fabinho’s unplanned departure has left a hole in Liverpool’s midfield, with Wataru Endo – soon jetting off to the Asian Cup – the only No 6.

 

Fabinho would still be getting minutes for this side, despite the holding midfielder’s poor form last season.

 

When Darwin Nunez missed three big chances in the first half, one could not help but think that Firmino’s calmness in front of goal is sorely missed, too – though the Uruguayan did make amends with a composed assist after the break.

 

Liverpool heroes Roberto Firmino (left) and Fabinho (right) returned to Anfield to watch a match for the first time since their summer moves to Saudi Arabia

Liverpool heroes Roberto Firmino (left) and Fabinho (right) returned to Anfield to watch a match for the first time since their summer moves to Saudi Arabia

 

Highs and lows on Martin’s stormy night

Rainy conditions can be a nightmare for goalkeepers but Martin Dubravka braved the elements to put in one of the finest performances of the season for Newcastle… for the most part.

 

The Slovakian denied Mohamed Salah from the penalty spot in the first half and made a string of excellent saves to keep Howe’s men in the contest – but also gave away a late spot-kick as his resistance ultimately proved futile.

 

Martin Dubravka was in inspired form for Newcastle and saved Mo Salah’s first half penalty

Martin Dubravka was in inspired form for Newcastle and saved Mo Salah’s first half penalty

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

 

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and

 

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De Bruyne could hold key in title race

For all the talk and endless debate about the title race and a potential four-team scrap for the trophy, perhaps Jurgen Klopp said it best.

 

‘Kevin De Bruyne is warming up and the whole country is starting to shake’ he said on Manchester City’s fit-again talisman.