The manager of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, has admitted that the winner of the Chelsea vs Liverpool Premier League game would have a better chance of catching up with “flying” Manchester City.
On Sunday, January 2, 2022, coach Jurgen Klopp would lead Liverpool to Stamford Bridge to play one of the most important fixtures in Liverpool’s attempt to win their second Premier League title under Klopp’s era. The league game will kick off at 17:30.
Chelsea are going into the game after a series of inconsistent results that have seen them slip down to the second spot with 42 points in 20 games. So far this season, the London-based club have recorded 2 defeats, 6 draws, and 12 wins.
Currently, coach Thomas Tuchel’s team is 8 points away from first-placed Manchester City which means that Chelsea must keep winning while they continue to hope that Manchester City would drop points in their remaining 18 league games.
As for Jurgen Klopp and his boys, they are currently occupying the third spot with 41 points in 19 games. They have a game in hand which could put them ahead of Chelsea if they win. Before that happens, Liverpool have to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
A draw in the game will be a huge setback for both Chelsea and Liverpool because that would increase the gap between them and first-placed Manchester City from 8 to at least 10 points. That will make it almost impossible for any team to catch up with City in the title race this season.
Ahead of the crucial match, coach Jurgen Klopp admitted that Manchester City that have won 16 games, drew two, and recorded two defeats in 20 games so far this season are flying.
The German tactician also admitted that before Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Leicester City on December 28, 2021, his team was enjoying a perfect title race.
The coach said: “City are flying. Before the Leicester game, we were in a perfect position, only three points behind City, which, with the season they’ve played, is incredible.
“Our start to this year, 2021, was massively difficult, and to find a way back into your normal performances and maybe improve them was a massive improvement.
“But one of us can put pressure on City, the winner can… the loser I don’t know. We will see that later on. We will not give up just because we lost our game against Leicester. We will try everything, 100 percent. There are a lot of games to come.
“City didn’t have a proper ‘down’ in 2021. Their 110 points in a calendar year are quite impressive, I have to say!
“But in the end, it’s a football game and the only way you can win is if you really want to play it, fancy the challenge, be annoying if necessary, be fluid if possible, play your best football and, if you give it a try, you have a chance. But the opponents are Chelsea and they are a really good team as well.”
After Sunday’s league game, Liverpool will be busy with EFL and FA Cup games until January 16 before they will resume their Premier League title race against Brentford.
As for Chelsea, their next league game after Sunday’s clash with Liverpool will come up on January 15. They will travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on league leaders, Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp: “It looks like #ManCity are not even a little bit phased by Covid or injuries…” [via @footballdaily]pic.twitter.com/yPMCjEaoeK
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 31, 2021
