Liverpool’s top four chances took a big hit last weekend after a 1-0 defeat to 18th placed Bournemouth.
The result followed a 7-0 thrashing of rivals Manchester United and summed up the inconsistencies they have had all season.
Despite defeat to “The Cherries”, 13 out of 15 points prior to the weekend had put top four back in reach.
“The Reds” sit six points behind fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand, and they still have to welcome Spurs to Anfield.
Newcastle United are two points ahead of Liverpool in fifth place but have played one less game, and two less games than Tottenham.
All three teams have struggled for consistency lately.
Tottenham have picked up 10 out of 15 points in the league and have crashed out of both the FA Cup and Champions League in recent matches.
Newcastle have picked up just five points from their last 15 available and lost the EFL Cup final to Manchester United within that run.
If each team equalled the reverse fixtures results in their remaining fixtures, Newcastle will easily surpass their two closest rivals.
“The Magpies” amassed 28 points in the reverse fixtures of teams still to play, whereas both Liverpool and Tottenham gained 19 points each.
Defensive frailties have entered Newcastle’s campaign, however.
They conceded just 11 goals in their first 20 Premier League games this season but have shipped seven in their last five.
Liverpool are in the best form of the three and their fans will be hopeful this can continue for the remainder of the season.
It’s been an injury hit season for “The Reds” and captain Jordan Henderson was absent from training yesterday, as well as Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic.
Luis Diaz is close to a return however and Joe Gomez returned to training yesterday after his recent injury.
Fans will be hoping for another epic Champions League comeback tonight (March 15th) as they travel to Real Madrid with a 5-2 deficit, though an exit from the Champions League may help their top four hopes.
Jurgen Klopp has long bemoaned fixture congestion but an exit from Europe’s elite competition will see Klopp’s men battling for just one prize – top four.
MerseySportLive asked a couple of Liverpool’s fans about their thoughts on top four and they were not very optimistic.
(Featured image courtesy of Alamy under agreed license)
