Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool will be crowned champions of England for the first time in 30 years on Thursday should Manchester City fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Jurgen Klopp’s men moved to the brink of a long-awaited Premier League title in the style that has made them worthy champions-elect by thrashing Crystal Palace 4-0 on their return to Anfield behind closed doors on Wednesday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane scored the goals as the Reds opened up a 23-point lead at the top of the table.
Should City keep the title race alive at Chelsea, a point will be good enough for Liverpool to win the league when the top two meet in Manchester on July 2.
“Tonight was a big step, that’s clear,” said Klopp. “We’ve all still got to play seven games. If we play like this it’s really not nice to play against us.”
City boss Pep Guardiola said on Wednesday his priority is Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final rather than prolonging Liverpool’s wait and he could rest players for a trip to Newcastle at the weekend.
“Pep should play poker,” added Klopp. “They are brilliant, the football they play is unbelievable.
“We are different and we have to be. There are different ways of playing football and I like them both.”
Alexander-Arnold opened the floodgates for Liverpool on Wednesday when the right-back curled a sumptuous free-kick beyond the grasp of Wayne Hennessey to settle any nerves on 23 minutes.
The England international admitted many of his teammates will be tuning into events in West London, but wants this Liverpool side to go on and rewrite the record books no matter when they clinch the title.
City set the Premier League points record of 100 two seasons ago, but Klopp’s side could still reach 107 with seven games remaining.
“A lot of us will watch it tomorrow but not get too excited,” said Alexander-Arnold.
“We’ve still got to prepare for the game next week regardless. We’ve still got seven games left I think and we’re going to try and get all 21 points from those games.”
Before kick-off “You’ll Never Walk Alone” boomed around a deserted Anfield, but without the usual accompanying chorus of nearly 55,000 fans.
Instead, banners and flags were draped over The Kop on the night Liverpool could have clinched the title had they won the Merseyside derby on Sunday.
from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2Z2vxpA
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