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Liverpool eye record-breaking win as top-four battle heats up
LONDON, Feb 28, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Liverpool can make Premier League history
at Watford on Saturday as the runaway leaders aim to move within three wins
of clinching the title.
While Jurgen Klopp’s side are racing towards the title, the battle to
qualify for the Champions League and the struggle to avoid relegation look
set to go down to the wire
Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves can all bolster their
European hopes this weekend, with West Ham, Norwich, Bournemouth and Watford
among those scrapping for survival. Liverpool’s history boys
Liverpool’s historic charge towards a first English title since 1990 will
reach another landmark moment if they beat Watford.
The Reds equalled Manchester City’s English top-flight record of 18
consecutive league wins, set between August and December 2017, when they
fought back from 2-1 down to beat West Ham 3-2 on Monday.
Klopp’s men, who need four victories from their final 11 games to guarantee
the title, can break City’s record with win number 19 at Vicarage Road.
With second-placed Manchester City on League Cup final duty against Aston
Villa on Sunday, a victory against the struggling Hornets would put Liverpool
25 points clear at the top.
If they do win their next four games, they will lock up the title with
seven matches to spare, beating the Premier League record of five, which is
currently shared by Manchester City in 2017-18 and Manchester United in 2000-
01.
Undefeated in their past 44 league matches, Liverpool are also five games
away from equalling Arsenal’s record of 49 unbeaten across 2003 and 2004.
It would be a huge upset if second-bottom Watford stop Liverpool. They have
lost the past four meetings, conceding 15 times and failing to score a single
goal.
Asked for the secret of Liverpool’s success, Reds defender Virgil van Dijk
said: “Not being nervous, that is the main thing.
“Keep playing and keep pressing. There will be moments when the opponent is
going to have problems if we keep doing the same thing.”
Top-four turbulence
With only seven points separating troubled Chelsea in fourth place and
resurgent Arsenal in ninth, reaching next season’s Champions League will be a
tight squeeze for the six clubs in contention.
Leicester, in third place, appear well set despite a recent wobble.
Fifth spot could be enough to ensure qualification depending on the outcome
of second-placed Manchester City’s appeal against their two-year ban from
European competition.
Chelsea could be in danger after Tuesday’s chastening 3-0 home defeat
against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last-16 first leg.
Blues midfielder Jorginho said Frank Lampard’s side cannot afford to feel
sorry for themselves at Bournemouth on Saturday.
“It is really tough for the changing room, but we just have to believe in
ourselves, and not put our heads down,” Jorginho said.
“We need to keep working, keep pushing, because we are a good team.”
If Chelsea lose on the south coast, Manchester United would move above them
on goal difference, provided they win at Everton.
Successive wins over Chelsea and Watford have revitalised United, with the
January addition of Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes sparking Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer’s previously moribund team.
Tottenham, in sixth, host Wolves, with their eighth-placed visitors just
one point behind them.
Hamstrung by injuries to Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Jose Mourinho’s side
were beaten by Chelsea in their last league game, prompting their manager to
hint he does not expect a successful end to the season.
“I would love to be at July 1,” said Mourinho. “I would love to be in pre-
season, working with Harry and Sonny. That’s not possible. It’s going to be
very difficult, especially when we go into an accumulation of matches.”
Arsenal, who are unbeaten in seven league games, are not in action this
weekend.
Fixtures (1500 GMT unless stated)
Friday
Norwich v Leicester (2000)
Saturday
Brighton v Crystal Palace (1230), Bournemouth v Chelsea, Newcastle v
Burnley, West Ham v Southampton, Watford v Liverpool (1730)
Sunday
Everton v Manchester United (1400), Tottenham v Wolves (1400)
BSS/AFP/GMR/0905 hrs