A year ago
Arsenal begin to find what Liverpool have known for years to challenge Pep Guardiola's Man City
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Manchester City have ruined the Premier League. And as a result, Liverpool was disfigured, so it was Arsenal's turn to figure out the problems in the duel with the pocket giants.
Now, before the respective legal teams start cleaning up the deck, allow us to explain.
Four years ago, the Red Devils were accused by many of having 'frozen' in the title race with Man City, the team that always claimed to be the best - in terms of quality - ever.
Liverpool finished with 97 points from their last nine wins of the season where they were beaten only once - against Man City midway through the season. Only three teams in English football history have won more points - two of which were Man City last season with 100 and Liverpool next season with 99. The problem, of course, is that the other team belongs to Pep Guardiola's men. in 2018/19. the following season, pitting them against the Reds' championship by a single point as they finished in 98th with a 14-game winning streak en route to a domestic treble. At least Jurgen Klopp's men can console themselves with a Champions League win.
Instead of celebrating a great title battle, opponents point to the point where Liverpool have fallen, with successive draws at home to Leicester City and away to West Ham United at the end of January. and the beginning of February, is considered the time when they seem to show their lack of courage to claim the title. a championship challenge.
Such a view, of course, is blatantly meaningless. And he has removed the psychological impact of having to go head-to-head with Guardiola and City's financial prowess is relentless in his conquest when even a hard-won draw can sound like a defeat. disastrous. Every point counts.
Yes, history is rife with title fights that have come to an end, often featuring the great teams that dominated their day. However, none of these clubs have the depth of resources like Man City, nor the ability to consistently win one victory after another, especially in the final stages of the season.
So far this season, only Liverpool have really managed to match that, they were also one point behind last season after another streak of more than 90 points. City's other victories under Guardiola in 2018 and 2021 see them go home in the final weeks of the campaign against neighbor United.
Indeed, when the Red Devils finally toppled Man City in 2020, even with a 25-point margin, there was still the nagging thought in their minds that their arch-rivals could still win. narrow distance.
That's why Arsenal's eight-point lead at the start of the month should never scare City off, especially when they have a game in hand. And it's very possible that Mohamed Salah's goal just before half-time when the Gunners visited Anfield two weeks ago could prove a pivotal moment in this season's title chase.
From 2-0 and a draw, the Gunners have not won a game since, eventually being leveled 2-2 by Liverpool, then suffering the same fate against West Ham and having to take a two-goal lead on their own. earned a 3-3 draw at home against Southampton, the lowest. Six points have dropped in just a few days and with a seismic trip to Man City on Wednesday, the timing is unlikely
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