Liverpool’s Premier League title bid gets a boost from Friday’s official confirmation – RTK VIew

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Liverpool got a small boost in their Premier League title race with the confirmation of Champions League fixtures. The Reds take on Benfica early next month.

Liverpool have the EFL Cup in the big but they’re far from done there. The Reds are still competing on three fronts and while dreams of the Quadruple still seem early, it’s still going to be an intense finish to the season.

The team needs all the help it can get, then. Jurgen Klopp will want to rotate players when he can but their best shot at glory is, unquestionably, about getting the preferred players on the pitch.

Liverpool certainly got a boost in that regard with the Champions League draw. They’ll take on Benfica – the weakest remaining side – and the second leg is at Anfield. They’ll hope to put that one out of site and truly control the game at home with a rotated side.

But the draw may have an effect on the Premier League title race, too. Liverpool can cross their fingers for further good fortune.

Liverpool could get Premier League boost

The games against Benfica fall on either side of Liverpool’s trip to play Manchester City on Sunday, April 10th. Fortunately, the first game in Portugal is the Tuesday before.

We think that’s key. Klopp can go full-strength for the game and still expect his players to recover before City. There’s ample time, after all, with a five-day rest.

And should all go to plan, Liverpool will win in Portugal as expected and can rotate in the return leg. That could be key. It means going all-out against both Benfica away and City away. We’re not sure Pep Guardiola boasts the same luxury.

City got a tougher test in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid. Their games fall on the same dates as Liverpool’s but with the game at the Etihad first, on Tuesday.

We’re not sure, however, that City will build up a big enough lead against Diego Simeone’s side to justify rotation in the second leg. And that’s a problem as Guardiola will need to decide if his best XI can play three times in one week. If they’re prioritising the Champions League – and we imagine they are – we could actually see rotation against Liverpool.

Of course, this all relies on Liverpool getting the job done in Portugal. That’s certainly the expectation, though, and if the Reds succeed, they may find their pursuit of glory gets a little easier.