Sir Kenny Dalglish says Liverpool’s ‘biggest threat’ in this year’s intriguing title race with Manchester City and Arsenal could be injuries to ’s squad.
Liverpool sit one point clear of second-placed City after 26 games and welcome ’s champions – last year’s treble winners – to Anfield in what promises to be a pivotal encounter in under a fortnight’s time.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have hit their stride after a severe dip in results over a rocky winter period, with Mikel Arteta’s men now just two points off the Merseyside giants down in third place.
Spurred on by Klopp in his farewell season, in last weekend’s Carabao Cup final.
A joyous Klopp said Liverpool’s League Cup triumph was the ‘most special’ trophy of his career. However, the Reds’ squad has been tested to the limit in recent weeks, with five academy products on the pitch at the full-time whistle at Wembley.
The likes of Mohamed Salah, Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcantara and Dominik Szoboszlai have all been missing through injury and Dalglish fears fitness problems could cost his former club come May.
Asked whether a resurgent Arsenal represent Liverpool’s ‘biggest threat’ in the title race, Dalglish told the : ‘They’re not the biggest [threat] because are in there as well. The biggest threat to Liverpool could be injuries.
‘For me, have got to go to Manchester and play Man City which is a big game.
‘I don’t know why people think Arsenal haven’t got a vested interest and a threat, of course they’re a threat. They’re a threat because they deserve to be a threat.
‘There is a lot of water still to pass under the bridge and if Arsenal are starting to get their players back, that have been injured, and we [Liverpool] are starting to lose ours then it could be vital.
‘Man City obviously will be right in the thick of it. It’s fantastic that we’ve got three teams as good and as great quality as those three challenging a position and the title. You don’t get that in too many countries do you?’
According to Dalglish, arguably the greatest player in Liverpool’s history, the three teams in this year’s title race are an ‘absolute credit’ to the Premier League.
‘I would hope it was decided on head-to-head and not somebody coming up and saying it was VAR that lost them the game,’ the ex-Scotland forward added.
‘Have a look at yourself first. If you look in the mirror you usually get the answer to your problem.
‘Let me see how they get on but it’s a great competition and there are three teams that are an absolute credit to the Premier League.
‘Whoever wins it deserves to win it because they will have got the most points.
‘The more points, the more successful you’ll be.’
Dalglish believes Arsenal have proven they can challenge Liverpool and Manchester City despite not having a prolific goalscorer in their ranks.
‘They say Arsenal don’t have a centre-forward. Imagine if they had a centre-forward, they’d be miles in front if they had a centre-forward!’ he went on.
‘But they don’t need a centre-forward. They’re getting the results, they’ve found a way to play and they have been very succesful.’
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