Liverpool must hold their nerve in the final weeks of the season
By John Wozniak
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with Andy Robertson during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on April 14, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with Andy Robertson during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on April 14, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9043e9368e3fee63d4894841347f624da3724aa9ba6c542bdc53323b223c4f4b.jpg)
Liverpool are holding their nerve in the battle for the Premier League title. The Reds have given their fans plenty of highs since January, and there’s more to come in the countdown to the season finale.
February was a turbulent time for the Liverpool, when draws against Leicester, West Ham and Manchester United looked to have handed momentum to Manchester City. The run also coincided with Mo Salah’s lack of goals.
A winning run of seven games in all competitions suggests the Reds are living up to the pressures of a fierce title battle. Sadio Mané has been in fine form and Mo Salah is back among the goals. The Liverpool No.11 scored a screamer on Super Sunday as Liverpool moved back to the top of the table.
Jürgen Klopp has tweaked his starting XI, giving Jordan Henderson an advanced role. The Liverpool skipper sat out the infamous Liverpool versus Chelsea fixture in 2014 when Steven Gerrard slipped and Liverpool’s title dreams faded away. Henderson looked assured in yesterday’s 2-0 win, he also set up the opening goal for Mané.
Salah’s return to form is arguably the most reassuring thing for Liverpool FC. Mané’s rich vein of form has kept his side in the hunt for silverware, but like City, Liverpool have two forwards in the battle for the Premier League golden boot.
The message from inside the Liverpool dressing room remains consistent, they are focussed on what they have to do and nothing else. Liverpool’s remaining fixtures are winnable games against Cardiff (a), Huddersfield (h), Newcastle (a) and Wolves at home. 12 points is the target, but Liverpool must hold their nerve and hope Man City can drop at least two points in their five remaining games. Klopp summarised his feelings after yesterday’s win and his 200th game in charge of the club.
"I am so proud of what the boys did today, and I loved, loved, loved the atmosphere – it was outstanding what the people did today. You could feel it, they are all on their toes, so let’s try to do that seven more times and then we see what we get for it. (via Liverpoolfc.com)."
https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1117514639179382784
Man City can win the Premier League title for a consecutive season by winning all five of their remaining games, it’s a run that would put them on 98 points. Klopp’s team can achieve a maximum of 97 points, a monumental total that could still leave them short of their first league title in 29 years. Liverpool fans won‘t want a repeat of the 2008/09 season or the 2013/14 season when the club finished runners-up to Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively.
Next. Wan-Bissaka and Rice are Born to Play for Manchester United. dark
Blink and you’ll miss it, the fierce battle at the top of the league is exciting, especially for the neutral. Will Henderson lift the Premier League trophy in May? Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Porto in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. We’ll be covering all the angles at the Top Flight.