Phil Thompson has claimed that three things could stop Liverpool from winning their first-ever Premier League title.
The Sky Sports pundit shared that injuries, suspensions, and luck in certain decisions will be vital between now and the end of the season, pointing out how VAR could still have a big role to play.
Thompson compared the injury situation at Anfield to the one at Manchester City, claiming that setbacks have decimated Pep Guardiola’s defence only months into the campaign.
“It is that little bit of luck, at times, the little bit of VAR going in your favour, that could equally go against you,” he told Sporting Life.
“Red cards will be massive too – you only need a red card and then your backs are against the wall, especially against the big boys.
“But the biggest one of all is injuries. It has decimated City’s defence, and if they had everybody fit, they could have been a lot closer to Liverpool.”
Liverpool went into the international break with an eight-point gap over second-placed Leicester City after beating Manchester City 3-1 at Anfield.
OPINION
There is no hiding from the fact that Manchester City would most likely be nearer to the Reds if they had their full-strength side to choose from. Up until now, Liverpool have been lucky to keep the same starting side together for the majority of the season, something that has yet to test them in the Premier League. That could all be about to change on Saturday when they come up against Crystal Palace though, with first-team players like Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk having to drop out of international duty, Jurgen Klopp could be forced to make numerous changes for the first time this campaign. VAR has been a mixed bag so far and can affect almost every team in any game so that reason can’t be used as one that could affect the title race. As for suspensions, Klopp will have drilled it into his players that they have to be disciplined, and the fact that they dominate the majority of games means that they will have fewer opportunities to commit a bad foul when off the ball.
