Man City’s victory over Manchester United sets up a huge Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield next weekend.
There hasn’t been much opportunity for a breather for Liverpool’s players during recent weeks. But Sunday offered a rare chance to rest weary limbs after the hard-earned and dramatic first-ever Premier League victory at Nottingham Forest.
And it also allowed those who were so inclined to take in the Manchester derby while putting their feet up.
The Reds, of course, had more than a vested interest in proceedings at the Etihad. As well as entertaining fellow title rivals City next Sunday, the following weekend Jurgen Klopp’s side make the short trip down the East Lancs Road to take on their bitter North West rivals United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Few watching would have been surprised at City having come from behind to dismiss their neighbours, in much the same way Liverpool would expect Arsenal to see off Sheffield United comfortably at Bramall Lane on Monday night. Between them, since mid-January the three championship contenders have won 19 of 21 league games, and one of those failures was because two of them, Arsenal and Liverpool were facing each other.
Such relentlessness has become second nature for City in recent years, while the Gunners, battle-hardened by last season’s ultimately fruitless title challenge, have benefited from the return of some key players. The reshaped Liverpool have not enjoyed quite the same fortune, but have still managed to keep chiselling out the results.
Klopp allowed a little insight into his view of the Reds’ injury crisis with his comments after Saturday’s game, a fourth victory in 11 days after a comeback Premier League win over Luton Town, the League Cup final triumph against Chelsea and FA Cup progress against Southampton.
“If you asked me 12 days ago if it was possible to win all four, I would have said no,” said the Liverpool boss. “But the boys made it happen.”
