Liverpool will win the Premier League, of that there is no doubt. But Reds head coach Jurgen Klopp, his players and the thousands of Kop fans who follow their idols will today be a little bit peeved that they won’t be claiming their crown on Sunday. For that is when they travel the short distance across Stanley Park to face Everton at Goodison Park and, had Arsenal beat Manchester City last night, they would have been able to win their first top-flight trophy for 30 years at the home of their deadly rivals.
But, City — in second place of the league standings but a massive 23 points behind the rampant Anfield would-be Champions — won at a canter against the lacklustre Gunners and now the Reds travel to the Toffees knowing local bragging rights and three more points to add to their tally will have to satisfy them for now. Worry not, the bubbly is on ice.
Everton fans will be relieved but it shouldn’t cloud the overall dominance the red half of Merseyside have enjoyed in recent times — and most certainly in this Covid-19 interrupted season. Klopp’s men will no doubt try to pick up where they left off after around three months of football being suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. Few people doubt that they will able to get the slick passing, huge goal threat and overall powerful performances back on track. And, as mentioned, the league title is a certainty. The Reds can’t be caught, surely? Liverpool need just six points from their remaining nine games to win the title — it would be unthinkable for them to blow it now!
In short, Klopp’s troops will face the Blues on Sunday fully aware, acutely so even, that a victory will see them inch to within three points of snaring the top-flight silverware, with their next game coming against a no-more-than-average Crystal Palace side at Anfield next Wednesday. And although there is very likelihood that there will be a title party come then, Klopp has made it clear that he believes that Reds fans should stay away from Anfield to ensure that the Covid-19 guidelines around social distancing are maintained.
Addressing the supporters who are no doubt keen to descend on the famous old ground to celebrate even though they can’t gain access to the behind-closed-doors encounter against the Eagles, he said:
“Football is back. It will be obviously for some reasons completely different but you can still make it really, really special. The final message is: stay safe, support us from home.”
Liverpool fans are die-hard and this correspondent thinks that many of them will ignore the appeal and dance the night away in the streets surrounding Anfield come the title party. It’s in their blood, after all.
