Liverpool will head to West Ham on Monday with the chance to remain in the driver’s seat in the race for the English Premier League title.
The Reds will be assured of holding into the top spot in the EPL after this week regardless of the result against West Ham United, but the margin could slip to as little as two points if they suffer a loss in the away match.
Tight Title Race Makes Every Point Count
At the moment, Liverpool has 61 points on the season, two ahead of Manchester City and four in front of Tottenham. But while City and Tottenham have already booked wins this weekend – against Arsenal and Newcastle, respectively – Liverpool still has the chance to match those results on Monday.
Liverpool was second choice to Manchester City according to oddsmakers heading into the season, but now appears to be on track to win its first English league title since 1990. Despite the mounting tension as the finish line draws closer, manager Jurgen Klopp says that his team isn’t feeling the pressure.
“We are relaxed in this situation,†Klopp told Sky Sports. “Not too relaxed, it is not that we don’t care. We care a lot but we know that we have to give our best until the last match and then we will see what happens and where we will finish the season.â€
West Ham Ready to Play Spoiler
On the surface, West Ham has relatively little to play for. Currently sitting 12th in the EPL table, the club is neither in contention for European play or in any real danger of relegation. That leaves only the opportunity to play spoiler down the stretch, something West Ham manager – and former City boss – Manuel Pellegrini seems to have embraced.
“If we win, I will be very happy for our club first,†Pellegrini told reporters. “After that, if we can give a hand to Manchester City, it’s not our problem, but of course I am a fan of Manchester City also.â€
Liverpool Prepared for EPL and Champions League Runs
But while Liverpool and its fans may have their eyes on the league title, Klopp says his squad is just as focused on the Champions League, where the Reds are in the final 16 and will face Bayern Munich in the first leg of their knockout match on Feb. 19.
“We will try [for both], for sure,†Klopp told reporters. “There was the discussion this year when people said we should focus only on the league so now we are still in the Champions League and I am quite happy about it.â€
That may be easier now that Liverpool have been eliminated from both the FA Cup and the League Cup, leaving only the two biggest prizes available to the club on the table, something Pellegrini pointed out may give the Reds another edge over City in the title race.
“It’s more easy for the team that is involved in just two competitions, compared to the team that is involved in four,†he told reporters.
Despite being on the road, Liverpool are expected to handle West Ham and maintain their lead at the top of the table. Ladbrokes has posted the Reds as a 3/10 favorite, with 9/2 odds on a draw and 8/1 on West Ham managing to come away with the full three points.