OPINION
In a season of such fine margins, even the most prosaic of factors can become huge deals as those chasing the title look for the slightest thing that could give them the edge.
For Liverpool, going into the international break off the back of the tightest of 2-1 wins over struggling Fulham, this couldn’t be more true.
The Reds know that if they win all of their remaining games and if Manchester City slip up even just once, they will end a 29 year wait for the league title.
It couldn’t be much closer than it is, and that’s why Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that his players come back from the current interruption in domestic action as fit and as fresh as possible.
The German should take great delight, therefore, in a stroke of luck regarding three of his key performers this season.
Brazilian trio Alisson, Fabinho, and Roberto Firmino will all be in action for the five times world champions, but because of the country’s tendency to tour the globe for international friendlies, the South Americans won’t even have to leave Europe.
Brazil face Panama in Portugal on Sunday before travelling to face the Czech Republic in Prague the Tuesday after.
That means that, providing none of them pick up knocks or complaints, you would expect all three to be fit and raring to go for the potentially crucial clash with Tottenham on Sunday March 31st.
That game has been earmarked as one that could be a potential banana skin for the Reds, so knowing that three of their star men will be in a fit state to compete will be a massive boost.
They still have to travel of course, but a flight from Prague to Liverpool John Lennon is a whole lot better than a long haul trek from Rio to Merseyside.
