With just nine matches to go and a healthy 12-point advantage at the top of the Premier League, Liverpool is on a solid path to overthrow Manchester City and claim the championship within the next couple of months.
Yet, after the sting of being knocked out of the Champions League and a disheartening Carabao Cup final loss to Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle, respectively, the Reds find themselves facing back-to-back defeats for the first time this season. This setback leaves Arne Slot’s team with something to prove when they regroup at the end of March.
Motivation shouldn’t be lacking as Liverpool not only eyes a historic 20th league title but also aims to dispel some recent doubts. The next challenge is the Merseyside derby, and if last February’s encounter is anything to go by, it promises to be fiery.
Collymore Advises Liverpool to Step Up in April
In his latest piece for CaughtOffside, Stan Collymore shared his confidence that Liverpool won’t falter at the Premier League’s peak. However, he added that the team must enhance their recent form to avoid any nerve-wracking moments during the season’s climax.
The former Reds striker penned, “At the season’s outset, any Liverpool fan would agree the Premier League crown is paramount. Although there’s a chance they could falter, I strongly doubt it. Improvements are needed though, as their performances of late have been underwhelming.”
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Despite Setbacks, Liverpool Poised to Finish Strong
Collymore’s cautionary words are apt—Liverpool hasn’t sealed the deal yet, and there’s ample room for improvement.
They were outplayed by PSG over two legs and seemed absent during much of the Carabao Cup final. Even their latest Premier League match required a wake-up call—a goal from Will Smallbone—to overcome a half-time hurdle against Southampton, a team with just nine points since August.
If there’s a silver lining to being out of all cup competitions at this juncture, it’s that Slot and his squad can channel all their energy into securing the league title. After the Merseyside derby on April 2, the schedule lightens up considerably with no midweek matches for the remainder of the season.
This break should offer some relief following a grueling stretch of 30 matches across four months since November’s international break. The recent disappointments might just fuel the squad’s determination to silence skeptics concerned about squandering their 12-point lead.
As Collymore notes, among Liverpool supporters, the Premier League holds supreme importance. Watching Virgil van Dijk lift the trophy in May would certainly alleviate the sting of missing out in other competitions.
