Liverpool could be 10 points ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League if they beat Aston Villa in midweek. Conversely, if they lose, coach Arne Slot's team will fall into a warning situation. They will visit Manchester City when signs of the shaking in the championship race gradually appear.
There have been gaps of more than 7 points in the lead that have been filled in the Premier League title race. Manchester United once lost an 8-point advantage with only 6 matches left at the end of the 2011-12 season. Therefore, Liverpool will enter the danger zone if they start to lose momentum.
It is difficult to assess how many chances Liverpool have of winning the championship. In theory, they seem to be on their way to their first Premier League title since the 2019-2020 season. However, recent results have hinted that trouble may be ahead. The championship race may be more intense than many people predicted.
In particular, the loss in the fourth round of the FA Cup against Plymouth Argyle can be considered an unusual result. In that game, almost all of Slot's regulars sat on the bench. However, losing to a weak opponent at that time did not reflect Slot's substitutes well. Their ability to enter the field if necessary will be greatly questioned.
The defeat to Plymouth was followed by a chaotic and dramatic Merseyside derby with Everton at Goodison Park. This match ended in a 2-2 draw after James Tarkowski's equalizer in the 98th minute for the home team. The 2-1 home win over Wolves has since stabilized the situation, putting Liverpool back on track and restoring a seven-point lead to Arsenal.
However, the victory over Wolves did not accurately reflect Liverpool's face. According to Opta, Liverpool did not have a second-half shot in a Premier League match at Anfield for the first time since the 2003-2004 season.
There are two ways to evaluate the game: This is a typical case of a championship team trying to win despite playing poorly, or is a sign that things are starting to get worse.
Therefore, the upcoming period is extremely important for Liverpool. The Reds will face Aston Villa, Man City and then Newcastle. These are 3 big matches that can decide or break The Kop's championship ambition.
If Liverpool win all three, they can start planning for the title parade. However, any defeat would give Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, who met at the City Ground on 26 February, confidence that the race is still on.
Remember, Liverpool led the Premier League table on New Year's Day 7 times, but 5 out of the last 6 times, they could not win the championship. The Kop lost a 9-point advantage in the 2018-2019 season, so the current 7-point gap may become slightly more fragile due to previous failures and a tight schedule.
This week will be a pivotal moment in Liverpool's Premier League title race and a few of the next matches could make a difference.
