Rafa Benitez has claimed that there will be a lot of questions asked about Liverpool’s Premier League title bid if they lose to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool are yet to lose in the league this season and find themselves six points clear of second-placed Man City at the top of the table after 11 matches.
The two title contenders meet on Merseyside this weekend and although Benitez admits that it is only November, he has predicted there to be a lot of doubts surrounding his former club if they lose to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Writing on The Athletic website, Benitez said: “Sometimes a title can depend on one game and sometimes it can depend on a single moment in one game, so imagine what might happen if Manchester City beat Liverpool this weekend. Pep Guardiola’s team would then be so close. The media would be asking questions — can they do it, will they do it, are they feeling the pressure, can they cope with it? — and it will build up and build up.
“After last year, Liverpool have more experience and that’s always a positive, but City have grown used to being at the top. They know what it takes to win. They also have fantastic talent. What Liverpool possess is the advantage and they certainly have the potential to go one step further, but this is football and it’s far too early to talk about what will happen in May. Nothing is definitive in November.”]
OPINION
Benitez is right, but the media that will be asking those questions is the same media that has been bigging up Liverpool for a while and acting as if the Premier League title is foregone conclusion already. Liverpool fans are trying to not get carried away but you see a lot of pundits who are making hyperbolic predictions about the Reds romping to the title. It is only November. No one wins the title in November and people were even making these short-sighted claims several weeks ago. Liverpool have started the season very well and Man City have slipped up a couple of times now. Liverpool have the potential to slip up in the same manner but they have to avoid defeat against Guardiola’s men this weekend if they do want to go on and win the title. It’s all well and good beating teams like Aston Villa – the Reds have to beat the best if they want to be the best.
