OPINION
Before Liverpool’s clash with Brighton on Saturday, all eyes will have been on Manchester City and their lunchtime kick-off against Newcastle United.
The Reds will obviously be concentrating on their own game, but in a Premier League title race, you can’t help but check updates on your nearest rivals.
Merseyside will have erupted when Jonjo Shelvey stepped up and fired in an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box to his side a point against Pep Guardiola’s men.
That meant Liverpool had the chance to go 11 points clear of their Manchester rivals when they met Brighton at Anfield, and they did exactly that, something which will have delighted Jurgen Klopp.
Joe Cole claimed after City’s draw with the Magpies that they had handed the Premier League title to the Reds, admitting that they had to win to keep in touch with the table-toppers.
“For Man City, it’s a different story,” he said on BT Sport.
“I think they’ve handed Liverpool the title here today.”
Liverpool will not want to get carried away in the hunt for their first-ever Premier League title, but Cole is definitely spot on with his verdict after Saturday’s results.
The Reds have only lost once in the league once since the beginning of last season, and the win over Brighton now means that they will need to lose four times with City going unbeaten between now and the end of the season – something that is highly unlikely.
Klopp has got his side winning games this season that they might not have in previous seasons, clashes where they aren’t exactly playing to the top of their ability like the wins against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, and that is vital in any title race and something that City aren’t doing in this campaign.
Cole is spot on with his Premier League title claim, and Liverpool surely have more than one hand already on the silverware after Saturday’s results.
