Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are five points clear of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
Danny Murphy has laughed off claims that the Premier League title-race is over already despite Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool going five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table this weekend, speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT (16 September, 10:00am).
Liverpool’s hard-fought 3-1 triumph over a plucky Newcastle United side at Anfield, coupled with Manchester City’s stunning defeat away at newly-promoted Norwich later in the day, means The Reds ended Saturday with a substantial lead in first place.
But Murphy has not forgotten that the Merseyside giants were 11 points clear after 20 games of the 2018/19 season, only to lose the title on the final day to a Manchester City side who won every one of their last 14 games.
So no wonder Murphy isn’t getting carried away – even if some sections of the Liverpool fans are getting a little overexcited.
“Put them back in the asylum. Last January, Liverpool were clear (of Pep Guardiola’s side),” he said, arguing that Manchester City’s defensive problems have been rather overblown.
“City could put Fernadinho at centre half, Kyle Walker at centre-half, they could go to three at the back. They could change it tomorrow and go on a ten game winning run.”
Without the excellent Aymeric Laporte, who will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, City looked more vulnerable than at any point since Guardiola’s erratic first season at the Etihad. John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi made crucial mistakes during their 3-2 defeat at Norwich and Premier League attackers will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a Laporte-less City backline.
But Murphy is right. If anyone can find solutions, it’s the genius that is Guardiola.
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