Liverpool need to keep calm and carry on in Premier League title pursuit despite Man City taking control

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON FOR LIVERPOOL

The disappointment of seeing City clear their last major hurdle – if Manchester United in current form can be considered a hurdle – in the title race will be felt deeply at Anfield. This was shaping up to be a truly historic campaign and even if they fall short, Jurgen Klopp’s side are likely to set the record for most points accrued by a second-placed side in Premier League history.

That, of course, is not what teams play for. And while it looks unlikely that City drop points against Burnley, Leicester City, or Brighton, stranger things have happened – Pep Guardiola’s side did lose to Leicester earlier in the season, and to Crystal Palace when the Eagles were only three points above the relegation zone.

If both Liverpool and City end the season with three more wins and the latter are crowned by a point, that will be heartbreaking for Klopp’s battlers. But the worst thing that could happen now is for Liverpool to not be able to take advantage of a City slip-up if it does come.

No let-up, no believing the title is out of their grasp. Keep calm and carry on until the final whistle is blown on May 12.

TIME TO LOOK AFTER GOAL DIFFERENCE?

It will take an unlikely sequence of results for these two teams to end level on points, but it would do no harm for Liverpool to think about cutting the eight-goal gap that currently separates them from City in the goal difference column.

Newcastle away won’t be the easiest fixture, and the Reds face Wolves on the final day of the season, both games in which they should be good enough to win but not by a truckload of goals. Huddersfield, with the league’s second-worst defence, seem prime candidates to be on the receiving end of any frustration Liverpool might be facing over losing control of the title race.

Any talk of Liverpool chasing after goals to boost their goal difference in a title race with City will no doubt bring back memories of 2014 and “Crystanbul”, the infamous game in which they blew a 3-0 lead away to Crystal Palace while trying to add to the scoreline.

This team is made of sterner stuff, however, and it’s easy to see them getting up to 3-0 by half-time before kicking it up a gear and blowing Huddersfield away after the break. At the very least, it might give City pause.

SALAH, MANE CHASING GOLDEN BOOT

Speaking of goals, there are two players who will definitely be chasing a few. Mohamed Salah is currently tied atop the Golden Boot standings with 19 goals, alongside City’s Sergio Aguero, with Sadio Mane one behind.

Salah may be particularly motivated. He’s been snubbed twice in the past week, first from the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award, and then, on Thursday, finding out he’s been omitted from their team of the year altogether.

This time last year he was on his way to a sweep of the end-of-season awards, and it’s perhaps because he’s being measured against last season’s magical standards that he’s been overlooked this time around.

That’s an unfair standard given this is still the leading scorer on a title challenger we’re talking about. Adding a second straight Golden Boot would be scant consolation, especially if his side miss out on the title, but it would be just reward.

Mane, meanwhile, has never before been in the conversation for top scorer, with his best scoring season before this the 13 league goals he managed in his debut campaign with Liverpool. Beating out the likes of Salah, Aguero, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would be some achievement.