Micah Richards told Sky Sports live on Super Sunday that ‘everyone was talking about Liverpool’ at the start of the season and they seemingly dismissed the now-runaway leader’s Manchester City.
Over the weekend, Man City opened up a staggering 19 point lead on Liverpool, who are now worrying about potentially losing out on a top-four finish after a disastrous few months.
At the start of the campaign, many would have backed Man City and Liverpool to be the top two, in whatever order. But that’s not been the case and won’t be when the final ball is kicked.
Nonetheless, Richards shared that his former club were ‘hurt’ by Liverpool’s form in the Premier League and in Europe during these past few seasons.
“It hurts Man City as well, the form of Liverpool over the last couple of seasons,” said Richards. “They won the Champions League and the Premier League.
“At the start of the season, everyone was talking about Liverpool and how good they were. The fact that they have got great players all over the pitch. Lost players through injury.
“As a player, when you are in the dressing room and all everyone’s talking about is Liverpool. You have got that little bit to say ‘well, hold on. We are still here’.
“When City won the league a couple of years ago everyone was talking about City going to dominate for how many years to come.
“Then when Liverpool (won), it’s ‘Oh, Liverpool cannot be stopped’. It does hurt as a player when constantly, you are getting told that you are ‘second best to Liverpool’.”
The stark difference between Liverpool and Man City was pretty evident when Pep Guardiola’s recently side put four past the champions at Anfield.
Whilst the current leaders have had some of their key players leave or are now coming towards the end of their careers – Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, David Silva and Vincent Kompany – yet, they are still looking stronger than ever.
The depth has always been there for Pep, but not for Jurgen Klopp, who may need to clear out a number of his back-up players this summer.
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