5 reasons why Liverpool must believe in the winning of the title

He also had to support for their worst enemies of Manchester United hoping for a misstep of Manchester City during the last derby, an illusion lasting just over 50 minutes before the Citizens scored with Bernardo Silva and Sané. And so nothing is changed, three gamedays from the end of the most contend league in recent years, Liverpool is once again with one point less than the Manchester team, and at this point it's mandatory to start doing some accounts and forecasts of what can happen in the last 270 minutes. Indeed Klopp and Guardiola in the past few hours have talked about something else, congratulating each other: both teams deserve to win the Premier, for different reasons and still valid, but only one team can triumph. With 88 points already conquered, the Reds would have easily won the title in 14 editions out of 26 total played in the new format, but this time they are not enough and will need at least a mistake by their rivals.

After following carefully the whole season (without cheering for either of them!) here are five reasons why Liverpool still has to believe in the possibility of winning the league:

1) Brendan Rodgers

Simply, the first thing to do is to take a look at the calendar, which is easy enough for both: while Liverpool will play twice in front of their own fans (and what a supporters, in the last home games were decisive and it was also perceived from the TV) against the already relegated Huddersfield and Wolves, after having visited the Newcastle of the never forgotten former coach Rafa Benitez; the City instead will play two games out of three away: first at Burnley against the home team practically save and then with the poor Brighton which are looking for points, going through the home match against Leicester. Yes, the Foxes who for some months have been coached by another former Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers who took over from Puel in the current season and who, with the Reds, arrived very close to title in 2014. Leicester is an unpredictable team and Guardiola knows it very well, because even without any particular stimulus he always played well against the big clubs, having drew 1-1 at Anfield and having beaten the City, 2-1 in the first leg.

2) In debt with luck

If Liverpool has not won the title since back in 1990, having touched it several times, one of the particular reasons is due to the Steven Gerrard fail which later became famous as 'the slip': the Reds direct towards the title in the 2013/2014 season betrayed precisely by their captain who gave the go-ahead for the resounding home defeat against Chelsea (full of reserves), the prelude to a terrible season final that saw them overtaken by Man. City. A team that at its finest melted like snow under the sun but above all a nightmare for all the fans, who since then continue to dream of the title. Will fate reserve something vaguely similar to it at their rivals to reward them?

3) Un po' di numeri

Just one defeat in the league (against Manchester City, last January 3), the record of best defense of the championship with only 20 goals conceded and the title of winter champions, obtained even with 7 lengths ahead of the Citizens are some of the Reds' merits, who can also boast the best pair of fullbacks (Robertson and Alexander-Arnold with 17 assists together) and the best attack trio, Salah-Manè-Firmino who together scored something like 49 goals. Ah, we were forgetting about Virgil van Dijk, the centre-back voted as 'player of the year' by the PFA. Numbers that, if the title does not arrive, would only increase regrets Liverpool's world.

4) The group

That between the two teams is a very tight duel in every area, in every aspect: one of the many things to consider is that which concerns the team globally, and not only with respect to the singles' performances. From this point of view, the Reds have scored with 15 players (against Manchester City's 14) but above all it's their contribution, even if minimal, which is making the difference. It's no coincidence that James Milner has publicly praised Simon Mignolet, zero minutes played in the league this season, for the way he trains daily and how he is playing a key role during the week, as a true pro. Similar speech for Joel Matip, the Cameroon defender who at the beginning of the season was the fourth choice for Klopp and who instead was one of the best in the last games, demonstrating a special dedication to the cause.

5) Nothing to lose

Let's say it, something really resounding must happen to stop Manchester City's march towards the title number six. Precisely for this reason Jurgen Klopp preferred to analyze the situation from the opposite point of view, trying to deflect the usual diplomatic words from a defeated starting point, a bit like he was used to doing in the Borussia Dortmund experience, when he rarely started favored in long-distance duel with Bayern. First the metaphors with Highlander ('only one team will arrive to the end'), then the sincere declarations about the next trip that awaits its rivals ('If Burnley is the place where I would like to play? I say no, honestly no, it is not the place where you think you get three points easily') and to finish the sentences a bit minimal about what is the real goal of his guys ('We don't play to become champions, but to have fun with our fans'). Well, the German coach could have definitely touched the right strings...we'll see.