The race for the 2020-2021 Premier League title has been thrown open thanks to Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Southampton on Monday night. The defeat has given second-placed Manchester United and 5th placed Manchester City more room to contend for the title.
Liverpool entered the new year as the league table leaders with just three points above Manchester United and a game fewer than United. What coach Jurgen Klopp and his boys needed to do was to win Southampton to keep their three points lead.
Unfortunately for the reigning Premier League champions, they threw the Premier League title race wide open by conceding an early minute goal against Southampton. Danny Ings’ 2nd-minute stunning strike was enough to earn Liverpool their second defeat this season.
Just @IngsDanny welcoming in the new year the only way he knows how 💥 pic.twitter.com/7HKPeHSnSs
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 5, 2021
In the second week of December after they took leadership of the league table from Chelsea, Liverpool were looking like a club that would make the title race difficult for those contending for it. Unfortunately for the reigning champions, they went on to record just two victories in their last 6 league games, which is not enough to give them a stronger grip on the first spot.
Now, Liverpool have equal points with second-placed Manchester United but only ahead of the Red Devils due to superior goals difference. The bad part for the reigning champions is that Manchester United still have a game in hand. Once Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his boys manage to get a victory from their outstanding game, they will automatically become the league leaders for the first time this season.
Besides United, Manchester City are catching up with Liverpool in full force. Even though City currently occupy the 5th spot on the league table with 29 points in 15 games, they still have two games in hand. If they get victories from the two outstanding games, City would garner 35 points, which would be more than the 33 points in 17 games that Liverpool currently have.
Hence, the Premier League title race is still at a very complicated stage because the first 10 clubs on the league table still have a very huge chance of winning the league title. While the first 14 clubs still have the chance to join the race mathematically.
However, it is currently a triple horse race involving Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City. The Premier League title will be won by the club that will drop lesser points among the contenders.
