EPL title race: Going to the wire

EPL title race: Going to the wire

What can we glean from Liverpool's 3-2 win over Manchester City on Sunday?

Several things, but not the one that counts - where the title is headed.

Yes, the home win was crucial in keeping Liverpool in control of the three-horse race, but it is still anyone's title.

As Reds skipper Steven Gerrard put it post-match, Liverpool's most important match is the next against Norwich away. And so it will be for their two title rivals.

No team can afford to slip up in the remaining matches in the tightest race in English Premier League history.

How tight? Just one point separates the potential maximum points tally of the trio - 89 for Liverpool, 88 for City and 87 for Chelsea.

Since Liverpool and Chelsea are to play at Anfield, only one of them can get maximum points.

City will be hoping for a Chelsea win or a draw to open the door for them.

Even then, it is more than likely that not every remaining match will go the way of the form book.

Just look at what happened at Anfield on Sunday.

Manuel Pellegrini would have been well aware of Liverpool's turbocharged starts at home and prepared his players accordingly.

Yet, his seasoned troops were soon shell-shocked into conceding two early goals and the City manager's game plan was in shreds.

But what has also been obvious about Liverpool this season is they can't keep a clean sheet and don't know how to close a game, so much so that even a two-goal lead lends scant comfort to their supporters.

Even so, the way they let City back into the game in the second half was just mind-boggling.

How could their form, so potent in the first half with 70 per cent of possession early on and clever running between spaces, suddenly crumble into a disjointed mess?

Centre back Mamadou Sakho was lucky not to concede a penalty with a wild swing at Edin Dzeko.

Left back John Flanagan kept being exposed by Jesus Navas and then his replacement, James Milner.

David Silva, City's most creative attacker, duly punished the Reds with two quick strikes, the second off Glen Johnson for an own goal. At that stage, there seemed to be only one winner.

 

VILLAIN

That Liverpool managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat was due to an unfortunate miskick by City skipper Vincent Kompany, who was not quite himself after taking a knock in training, and Philippe Coutinho's cool, accurate finish.

On such narrow margins are titles won and lost.

You can bet your house that Chelsea will not be so generous two Sundays from now.

To me, this match has always been the one that would most severely test Liverpool's title credentials.

City, with their more expansive attacking style, would always allow opponents chances to score.

Jose Mourinho, on the other hand, sets up his Chelsea team to first not concede, then try to score on the break.

This tactic was used to steal a win at City with a Branislav Ivanovic wonder goal.

Their recent away form has been poor - three straight losses, followed by a ponderous 1-0 win against 10-man Swansea on Sunday.

But Mourinho and his men are experts at grinding out results, and expect him to have a trick or two to deny the Reds a lightning start.

If the teams go into the break level, I fear a second-half Liverpool collapse as anxiety sets in.

Don't underestimate the weight of expectation after 24 years in the league wilderness.

The Reds must be patient as Chelsea need the win more and the game should open up as the minutes tick away.

A draw wouldn't be a disaster. It keeps Chelsea at bay and while City have two matches in hand, I see a potential banana skin in their away match against Champions League-chasing Everton.

And on the last day, they go to West Ham, where title dreams have died before.

If Chelsea win at Anfield, my gut feel is they will go on to win the title.

Imagine how unbearable the Annoying One will be then.

LIVERPOOl: THE GOOD & THE BAD

NOT JUST SAS

It's also about another SAS - Sterling and Skrtel - whose goals against Man City took them to seven goals each in this campaign.

STERLING SILVER

Speedy winger Raheem Sterling is settling into the No. 10 role with guile, finishing and an eye for a pass. As for dummying Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart to score against City, how cool is that?

APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION

While Coutinho's strength is running at opponents but he surprises with his appetite for covering back and tackling. And how vital will his opportunistic goal be to Liverpool's title hopes?

FAST AND FURIOUS

When the Reds click, few teams can withstand their whirlwind start to matches. No wonder they have outscored many teams with just their first-half goals.

SLOPPY SECONDS

It may be too much to expect the Reds to sustain their first-half ferocity for 90 minutes, but their decline in the second half is worrying.

STUTTER-RIDGE

Sturridge had probably his worst match in a while, missing a gilt-edged chance set up by Sterling and figuring only in fits before going off with a hamstring strain.

Going off the boil and getting injured. The only thing worse would be the return of...

BAD SUAREZ

He seemed more preoccupied trying to con the referee and arguing with him than trying to beat his man and scoring. Lucky not to be sent off for a second yellow for diving. Better get the muzzle ready for the Chelsea game.

 

This article was published on April 15 in The New Paper.

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