After Liverpool’s thrilling 3-1 home win against Norwich and Manchester City’s even more dramatic 3-2 loss to Spurs, the weekend ended with Liverpool only six points behind the Premier League title holders with a game in hand – versus Leeds this Wednesday – and a trip to the Etihad scheduled for April.
In other words, winning the Premier League title is, theoretically, now in Liverpool’s hands. If the Reds win all their remaining 13 games they will be crowned champions.
Obviously, as the Spartans would say, ‘if’. The task is, of course, enormous and will require effort, luck and faultlessness, and all while Liverpool are pursuing Champions League and FA Cup glory – the Reds are already set to play the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea this Sunday.
Asserting that the title is, essentially, now Liverpool’s to lose also overlooks the fact that despite the remarkable run the Reds have been on to get themselves into a position to challenge for four trophies this season, it’s been willpower and desire – emanating from the manager, players and, particularly the home crowd – rather than Liverpool’s crushing form that has counted.
Thus, even in the game against lowly Norwich, favourites to be relegated to the Championship, Liverpool had to fight against adversity.
True, Klopp made seven changes to the side that beat Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek – with Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Joel Matip, Naby Keita and Luis Diaz all getting starting places; but the team still looked strong and there was every expectation that the new lineup would have enough to overcome Dean Smith’s side.
And, indeed, Tsimikas, in for Andy Robertson, and Gomez playing at right-back in place of Trent Alexander Arnold, had excellent games, contributing significantly both in attack and defence. Tsimikas is a more creative footballer than Robertson while Liverpool’s defence looked far more solid with Gomez playing instead of Alexander Arnold, whose defending is erratic.
However, not only did Norwich manage to hold the Reds to 0-0 after 45, but within three minutes of the restart, the Canaries took the lead, weak defending from Oxlade Chamberlain, failing to prevent or block the speculative shot from the edge of the area from Milot Rashica, and Matip’s pathetic dangling of his leg in the path of the ball, ensured the deflected effort wrong-footed Alisson Becker and nestled in the corner of the goal.
Anxiety crept into Liverpool’s play as their championship tilt seemed to be on the brink of ignominiously ending.
It was then, after an hour, that, as in the game against Inter, Jurgen Klopp turned to his bench and made decisive substitutions.
Thiago Alcantara came on for the disappointing Oxlade Chamberlain and Divock Origi – returning from two months out with injury – replaced Naby Keita.
Thiago immediately calmed Liverpool down with his effortless and precise possession and passing. As on Wednesday night, his composure and serenity were breathtaking.
Thus, on 64 minutes, Thiago linked up with Gomez and Jordan Henderson, the captain chipping the ball to the far post where Tsimikas brilliantly looped a header into the path of Sadio Mané who, from six yards out, contorted his body and executed a bicycle kick to equalise past Angus Gunn in the Norwich goal.
Liverpool now scented Canary blood and, two minutes later, a Norwich attack lamely broke down and Alisson retrieved possession, the Brazilian stopper then launching the ball 100 yards down the field into the path of Mo Salah on the edge of the opposition area.
The Egyptian king controlled the ball with a sublime touch, then jinking and spinning sent the Norwich defenders and keeper this way and that before, with his wrong right foot, passing the ball into net.
Liverpool had not only stepped back from the abyss, but had done so with conviction.
To cap off a superb day, it was fated that new-boy Luis Diaz, already a fan-favourite with his skill, pace and endeavour, would score. Thus, in the 81st minute, the Colombian latched on to a precise through pass from Henderson and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Gunn to make it 3-1.
In other words, winning the Premier League title is, theoretically, now in Liverpool’s hands. If the Reds win all their remaining 13 games they will be crowned champions.
Obviously, as the Spartans would say, ‘if’. The task is, of course, enormous and will require effort, luck and faultlessness, and all while Liverpool are pursuing Champions League and FA Cup glory – the Reds are already set to play the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea this Sunday.
Asserting that the title is, essentially, now Liverpool’s to lose also overlooks the fact that despite the remarkable run the Reds have been on to get themselves into a position to challenge for four trophies this season, it’s been willpower and desire – emanating from the manager, players and, particularly the home crowd – rather than Liverpool’s crushing form that has counted.
Thus, even in the game against lowly Norwich, favourites to be relegated to the Championship, Liverpool had to fight against adversity.
True, Klopp made seven changes to the side that beat Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek – with Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Joel Matip, Naby Keita and Luis Diaz all getting starting places; but the team still looked strong and there was every expectation that the new lineup would have enough to overcome Dean Smith’s side.
And, indeed, Tsimikas, in for Andy Robertson, and Gomez playing at right-back in place of Trent Alexander Arnold, had excellent games, contributing significantly both in attack and defence. Tsimikas is a more creative footballer than Robertson while Liverpool’s defence looked far more solid with Gomez playing instead of Alexander Arnold, whose defending is erratic.
However, not only did Norwich manage to hold the Reds to 0-0 after 45, but within three minutes of the restart, the Canaries took the lead, weak defending from Oxlade Chamberlain, failing to prevent or block the speculative shot from the edge of the area from Milot Rashica, and Matip’s pathetic dangling of his leg in the path of the ball, ensured the deflected effort wrong-footed Alisson Becker and nestled in the corner of the goal.
Anxiety crept into Liverpool’s play as their championship tilt seemed to be on the brink of ignominiously ending.
It was then, after an hour, that, as in the game against Inter, Jurgen Klopp turned to his bench and made decisive substitutions.
Thiago Alcantara came on for the disappointing Oxlade Chamberlain and Divock Origi – returning from two months out with injury – replaced Naby Keita.
Thiago immediately calmed Liverpool down with his effortless and precise possession and passing. As on Wednesday night, his composure and serenity were breathtaking.
Thus, on 64 minutes, Thiago linked up with Gomez and Jordan Henderson, the captain chipping the ball to the far post where Tsimikas brilliantly looped a header into the path of Sadio Mané who, from six yards out, contorted his body and executed a bicycle kick to equalise past Angus Gunn in the Norwich goal.
Liverpool now scented Canary blood and, two minutes later, a Norwich attack lamely broke down and Alisson retrieved possession, the Brazilian stopper then launching the ball 100 yards down the field into the path of Mo Salah on the edge of the opposition area.
The Egyptian king controlled the ball with a sublime touch, then jinking and spinning sent the Norwich defenders and keeper this way and that before, with his wrong right foot, passing the ball into net.
Liverpool had not only stepped back from the abyss, but had done so with conviction.
To cap off a superb day, it was fated that new-boy Luis Diaz, already a fan-favourite with his skill, pace and endeavour, would score. Thus, in the 81st minute, the Colombian latched on to a precise through pass from Henderson and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Gunn to make it 3-1.
