Title race with City remains tight
Klopp raves about the game “like a boxing match”
4/11/2022 8:31 am
Liverpool FC can no longer become champions on their own, and Manchester City would have to fail for that. In the duel between the two top clubs with star coaches Klopp and Guardiola, things are heating up. The Catalan is less satisfied afterwards than the German, who raves about the game.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has not yet given up hopes of an exciting championship fight with Manchester City. “It’s not the end of the world and we’re still in the race,” said Henderson after the 2-2 (1-2) win at defending champions Manchester City. However, the Reds missed their last opportunity to take the lead in the English Premier League on their own.
Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp was also not disappointed. “It was a great game,” said Klopp. “We have to live with the result and we can live with it.” The Reds twice equalized a deficit in the high-class football game at the Etihad Stadium after goals from Kevin De Bruyne (5th minute) and Gabriel Jesus (36th). Diogo Jota (13′) and Sadio Mané (46′) scored for Liverpool. “What a game!” enthused Klopp. “It was like a boxing match, you put your arms down for a second, take a hard punch and then you shake yourself a little.”
Guardiola is also struggling
Man City remain at the top by a point, but could have secured a preliminary decision in the title race with a win seven days before the end of the season. “It was a huge opportunity,” said City coach Pep Guardiola with the result – and with Riyad Mahrez missing a big chance in added time. “But there are still many games left.”
On paper, Guardiola’s team has the slightly easier remaining program in the final spurt of the season, while Klopp with Liverpool has to compete against record champions Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who have regained their strength. “Obviously they don’t lose a lot of points, we know that. We have to focus on ourselves and try to win as many games as possible. And if they make a mistake, we have to be there,” Henderson said. City goalscorer Kevin De Bruyne said: “I know a lot of people have said whoever wins today will win the title. But I don’t think either team thinks that way. Like today, we have to keep playing for the rest of the season .”
Man City and Liverpool meet again for the first time on Saturday. The two top clubs will contest the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley Stadium in London.