Both Liverpool and Tottenham earned victories over the course of the weekend.
Alan Shearer has told the Premier League’s official matchday program that he believes Liverpool stand a better chance of finishing in the Premier League places than Tottenham Hotspur.
Both Liverpool and Spurs earned wins over the weekend. Jurgen Klopp’s side secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle United thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.
But Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs also kept the pressure on with a 2-0 win of their own over Huddersfield, thanks to a brace from in-form South Korean attacker Son Heung-min.
Spurs currently sit five points ahead of Chelsea in fourth place, while Liverpool sit in second with third-placed Man United boasting a game in hand. But Shearer believes Liverpool are in pole position for a Champions League position.
“I fancy Liverpool in the four because anyone can get injured at any stage of the season, we know that,” Shearer said. “But if one of [Sadio] Mane, [Mo] Salah or [Roberto] Firmino get injured, another can step up.
“Whereas if you look at Tottenham, if they lose Harry Kane, they haven’t got anyone to replace him. I know there’s [Fernando] Llorente but he’s not in the same league as Kane. Chelsea are the same with [Eden] Hazard.”
Kane has been in sensational form this season, scoring 35 goals in just 37 league and cup encounters for the north Londoners. He failed to score against Huddersfield, but will be hoping to put that right against Juventus on Wednesday.
Whereas 6ft 3in summer signing Llorente has failed to provide the required form to act as Kane’s back-up, managing just five goals all season with three of those coming in the 6-1 win over Rochdale last week.
It could all change in the top four on Monday night, though, as Manchester United travel to relegation-threatened Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park – tasked with securing a win to move back into second place.
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