It was interesting going into the summer and thinking how long would it take Liverpool to get back alongside Manchester City and get competing again. I think it’s a bit early to say that, but they are competing right now in terms of when you look at the league table. So it feels like a really big game.
Liverpool were so poor last season. There was always going to be an improvement. Liverpool have made a start that I wouldn’t say is surprising, but it’s nice to see that it hasn’t taken so many new players time to settle in and gel with the rest of the players, so that’s the pleasing thing.
But a team of Liverpool’s stature should be in and around these positions where they are right now. They’re not the only team alongside Manchester City. Arsenal are there, Tottenham have been there in the last couple of weeks and Aston Villa are not too far away, so this is the position that Liverpool should be in.
There’s a long way to go, but it’s been a very promising start. Liverpool had a really difficult start, I would say, in the first six to eight fixtures, and then the last few were a little bit easier on paper, but then they go and draw at Luton, so that just shows the nature of the Premier League.
But they’ve now got the toughest fixture, I’d possibly say, in world football. When you look at Manchester City’s record, certainly in home games, 23 on the bounce, so it’s going to be mightily difficult for Liverpool to get three points.
I still think Manchester City have got the edge on Liverpool right now so I think Liverpool are almost still building to almost get back to where they were.
But, I’ll tell you what, if Liverpool could get a result at Manchester City, and even go and win that game, it’d certainly blow the title wide open.
Yeah, I still see City just above Liverpool at the moment, even if Liverpool got a result. But I think if Liverpool got a result, you’d be thinking, ‘Okay, Liverpool could really challenge for the title’. Certainly my feeling right now is just to make sure, not that Liverpool challenge for the top four, but getting the top four. That’s the first thing for me.
I think there’s another level then where you’re actually going for the title, and then there’s another level where you’re actually thinking, ‘We can win this league’, and I think if Liverpool do get a result against Manchester City, and that could be a draw, I could say, ‘You know what, Liverpool could push this and really challenge City’.
I don’t think they could get above them, but I think they could really push them and challenge them. But it’s one game, it’s not going to make that much difference, but I think psychologically for Liverpool to go away to the champions and get a result that’ll give them great belief that they can be in with a shout when we get beyond Christmas.
I’d have to favour Man City. They might just edge it. I’m hoping there’ll be goals in it.
I think Liverpool can cause real problems. I’m not sure I can see Liverpool winning there, to be honest, but I think they could easily get a draw from there, like a 2-2 – something where there’s goals, a bit of a crazy game.
But you have to make Man City favourites.
