Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Manchester City could be the major beneficiaries if the Reds lose to Arsenal this weekend.
While the Merseyside club are currently 5 points ahead of Pep Guardiola‘s side, the Cityzens do have a game in hand and Klopp says he is very much aware of the possibility that the reigning champions could take advantage of any slip-up:
“Shall I go to the boys in the dressing room and say, ‘If we win against Arsenal we are eight points between us and them…?’ Everybody knows that.”
“If we lose we are still two points ahead (if City win their game in hand as it stands), but then City are the big winner of a game they are not even involved in.”
City can only focus on their own games
While, as things stand, the title is very much out of their hands, City’s aim will be to accrue as many points between now and the end of the season as possible.
That means that Guardiola will want his players focused on getting a win away at Brentford on Monday night, rather than banking on their rivals to drop points.
City’s fixture list over the next month
After they face the Bees, Guardiola’s team take on Everton next Saturday at home before the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie versus FC Copenhagen.
In two weeks’ time, they will host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium followed by the return fixture against Brentford. The Cityzens close the month with an away trip to Bournemouth and the FA Cup fifth-round clash versus Luton Town.
While it is a very busy schedule, fans will be confident that City can stay unbeaten in February. There are three consecutive home league fixtures after Monday’s game at the Gtech Community Stadium where they will be hoping to pick up points.