Liverpool’s catch-up game is in the books – albeit not as the Reds had imagined it. Nevertheless, their pursuers Arsenal still have a tall order ahead of them.
Liverpool lost their city rivals Everton’s “cup final” by a small margin, even though it ended 2-2. In the last Merseyside derby at the venerable Goodison Park, whose significance for the Toffees LFC captain Virgil van Dijk described as follows, the league leaders conceded the equalizer in the eighth minute of a wild stoppage time that had originally been announced as five minutes long.
“It’s always disappointing to concede a late equalizer,” said van Dijk on TNT Sports in general when asked why these two points were particularly painful. Because the Reds could have even distanced their closest pursuer, Arsenal, by nine points with a win in the heated postponed game.
European, both are equal
Now it’s seven. After 24 match days, which both Liverpool and Arsenal have now completed. Finally, there is a tie between the two established Champions League round of 16 contenders, and the math can be done. Or you can look at the statistics and see that what the Gunners have to achieve is unprecedented in the Premier League era.
After 24 matchdays, only once have a five-point deficit been twice overcome: Manchester United pulled ahead of Arsenal in 2003, and Manchester City pulled ahead of Liverpool in 2019. Perhaps that is why people on Merseyside are being cautious.
“The most important thing is that we only focus on ourselves,” said van Dijk, which is of course understandable. If Liverpool win their games, Arsenal are powerless. But there could be a lot of movement at the top of the Premier League soon.
Starting Wednesday, Liverpool will play at Aston Villa, at Manchester City and at home against Newcastle within a week. It’s easy to miss out on three to five points. However, the same applies to the Londoners, who will play at Nottingham Forest, at Manchester United and against Chelsea a little later. Losing is not an option, at least for the two-time runners-up.
In April, when the Champions League heats up, both opponents have a comparatively manageable program, before the direct showdown in May, when Liverpool still have to play Chelsea and Arsenal at the Emirates, against Bournemouth and Newcastle. On Matchday 36 at Anfield, three rounds from the end.
Could this be the game that sees Liverpool seal the title? In terms of personnel, there is currently a lot to be said for it, especially in attack. While Arne Slot is spoiled for choice up front with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, Mikel Arteta is facing the next setback after the injuries of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli: Kai Havertz will be out at least in the medium term.
