Paul Gorst – Foolish to throw in towel now
The Fat Lady may not be crooning to the crowd just yet, but she is almost certainly backstage clearing her throat for Liverpool.
A two-point deficit to Manchester City does not sound like an insurmountable one with six games left to play but recent performances have not convinced anyone that Klopp’s players are in position to capitalise on any slip ups between now and the end of the campaign.
How different the complexion of the table – and the general mood around the club and its fanbase – would feel if Crystal Palace had been seen off at Anfield on Sunday? The Reds would be flying to Bergamo this week in full belief they could rescue their floundering Europa League hopes having regained their status as Premier League leaders.
Paul Gorst – Foolish to throw in towel now
The Fat Lady may not be crooning to the crowd just yet, but she is almost certainly backstage clearing her throat for Liverpool.
A two-point deficit to Manchester City does not sound like an insurmountable one with six games left to play but recent performances have not convinced anyone that Klopp’s players are in position to capitalise on any slip ups between now and the end of the campaign.
How different the complexion of the table – and the general mood around the club and its fanbase – would feel if Crystal Palace had been seen off at Anfield on Sunday? The Reds would be flying to Bergamo this week in full belief they could rescue their floundering Europa League hopes having regained their status as Premier League leaders.
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Darwin Nunez of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace at Anfield
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, speaks with Curtis Jones of Liverpool during the warm up prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace at Anfield on April 14, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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If, however, is probably the biggest word in football and Liverpool fans are suddenly facing up to a campaign that ends without the glorious, trophy-laden send-off for Klopp that so many had dreamed of.
A season that ends with a League Cup trophy and a seat back at the Champions League table once more is nothing to sniff at but it feels like a paltry return just now given how lofty the hopes and ambitions were just a few days ago.
Whoever said a week is a long time in politics clearly never worked in football.
That being said, a first Anfield defeat in the Premier League since October 2022 might not be the death knell may believe it to be.
All it takes is one slip and with City still to visit a Tottenham Hotspur – a venue where they have not scored a goal or earned a point at since 2018 – there is still a lot to play for with 18 points left to battle for.
It’d be a foolish move to throw in the towel right now.
Theo Squires – Sometimes, a chance is all they need
I was ready to concede defeat in the Premier League title-race come the final whistle at Anfield on Sunday, having seen two tired, uninspiring performances from Liverpool in front of their own fans in the space of four days.
Having had the chance to go top of the table against Crystal Palace, a shock defeat instead consigned them to finishing the weekend in third. Had they won away at Manchester United the week before, it was in their hands. Instead, they had conspired to throw such hopes away.
Sure, a gap of two points is nothing with six games left to play, but we’ve all seen this story before. Man City grab hold of top spot, go an endless winning run at the business end of the campaign, and never leg to. The Etihad juggernauts are inevitable.
But then a couple of hours later, Arsenal fell to a shock defeat of their own at home to Aston Villa and the belief slowly started to ooze back in. Having to topple two sides who looked unbeatable would have been impossible, but the Gunners’ unforeseen flailing has given Liverpool fresh hope.
They are relying on outside favours now, of course, with Tottenham Hotspur the most likely side capable of providing it ahead of hosting both of the Reds’ title-rivals. But if City and Arsenal slip-up now, Liverpool have to be in a position take advantage and pile on the pressure for as long as they mathematically remain in the hunt.
Admittedly, it would still be a surprise to see City falter now. And Klopp’s biggest challenge is fixing a suddenly broken Liverpool before his looming summer exit.
The Reds were down against Atalanta and again against Crystal Palace, seemingly incapable of scoring or keeping a clean sheet at a time where such unwanted traits are so costly. But they’re not out of it yet.
If they can unearth a response from within and bounce back strongly, finishing the season on a high, they give themselves a chance. And one that felt to have gone come the final whistle on Sunday. Sometimes, a chance, however unlikely, is all they need.
Stephen Killen – A monumental collapse now needed
How do Liverpool find themselves in this position?
When Curtis Jones miscued his one-on-one with Dean Henderson, it almost felt like it wasn’t going to be their day. How fatal the 1-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace will be remains to be seen, but for Liverpool they have been in this position too many times before.
Under Rafa Benitez in 2009, too many draws saw them pipped to the post by Manchester United as was the case with Brendan Rodgers during their hunt for Premier League success in 2014. This feeling during a title challenge has been all too familiar in the last 20 years, not seeing it out during crucial periods.
It has felt, although not to everyone, that Manchester City were always the team to beat even when Liverpool sat at the summit. Two points separate the clubs going into the final six games and Jurgen Klopp’s side can go clear at the top before City are next in league action.
But with the strength in depth at Pep Guardiola’s disposal, as well as their ability to blow teams out of the water, it’s hard to see how Liverpool can mount another challenge unless there is a monumental collapse 35 miles up the road
From Liverpool’s perspective, it was nice to be a believer under Klopp during his final hoorah but a title challenge was always going to be a bridge too far, so soon after last year’s calamitous campaign.
