Micah Richards has claimed that Liverpool aren’t out of the Premier League title race this season.
The pundit, speaking on BBC 5 Live Sport’s The Monday Night Club, said that The Reds had, in fact, never been out of the race with Manchester City.
“You know full well it’s not been over. It only takes one slip up and Liverpool have got a squad now,” said Richards.
“I don’t think it was over at all. Man City were always going to drop points, especially when it came to the time around the Champions League. We all knew that was going to happen.”
Although Richards’ assertion that City were ‘always going to drop points’ doesn’t ring especially true to us, it is probably right to say that Liverpool were never fully out of it.
The Reds ability to go on long winning runs over the last few seasons means they always have a chance.
Even after a disappointing season left them fighting for the top four last year, they still managed to win the last five of the campaign. They were also unbeaten in the last 10 in the league.
Clash of the titans
Richards also highlighted the importance of Liverpool’s game against City at the Etihad in April.
“They’ve got to go to Etihad and win the game, but its definitely not over,” he said.
“Liverpool are a strong side, at the time when City got 100 points a couple of seasons ago, Liverpool pushed them all the way. People saying it’s over, it’s never been over in my opinion.”
That game has the hallmarks of a title decider.
Liverpool have a poor record at the Etihad in recent years. Jurgen Klopp’s side haven’t won at City’s ground since April 2018.
They also haven’t won any of the last four games against Pep Guardiola’s expensively assembled squad.
That is something that would surely have to change if Liverpool have any chance of winning the league.
There are echoes of the 2018/19 campaign when neither Liverpool nor City would relent.
Pep’s side ended up winning the league with 98 points. Liverpool sat agonisingly just one point behind on 97.
That year the clash between the two at the Etihad did end up deciding the title. City edged an enthralling game 2-1, with John Stones’ last ditch goal-line clearance proving to be pivotal.
The Reds are due a bit of luck in Manchester then. Roll-on April 9th and an all-or-nothing heavyweight clash.