Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool subs show he knows exactly what the title race will come down to
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With three points already well and truly sewn up, many would have expected Jurgen Klopp to have started withdrawing his potent attacking forces.
Liverpool were three goals to the good against Leeds United and have a Wembley appearance around the corner.
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The prudent thing would have been to have taken off two-goal hero Mo Salah and livewire Sadio Mane.
Instead, Klopp left them on the pitch.
Why did he do so? Why did he risk potential injuries to his deadly duo, along with the high-octane Luis Diaz ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday?
Because the potential reward was greater.
Klopp was not satisfied with closing the gap on Premier League leader Manchester City to three points.
He knew Leeds were a wounded animal and smelt blood.
There were more goals to score - and that could be crucial in the race for the silverware.
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Hide AdKlopp was well aware that Marcelo Bielsa would not change the Whites' approach.
Curtis Jones and Thiago Alcantara were taken off rather than Salah and Mane. And Klopp's bravery by leaving the duo on got its dividends.
Mane notched a deserved goal to make it 4-0 with 10 minutes remaining, having latched onto a cross from Jordan Henderson - who’d been brought on. Salah got the second assist.
Then Mane crashed home another goal before Virgil van Dijk put the gloss on the success.
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Hide AdPragmatism would have been what most managers would have gone with in the same situation.
But, in truth, leaving on Salah and Mane was the most pragmatic thing Klopp could have done in terms of the Premier League title race.
What the title race could come down to
We have a battle on our hands, all right. In truth, it's beginning to feel a lot like 2019 when Liverpool missed out on the top-flight crown by a solitary point.
Things could be even tighter this time around. If the Reds beat Man City at the Etihad on 10 April, they'll be level.
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If that is the case, whoever gets their hands on the crown will be because of goal difference - and then potentially number of goals scored.
Knocking Leeds for six has put Liverpool in the box seat in terms of goal difference. They now boast +50 with City four behind on +46.
Doubles from Salah and Mane, as well as centre-back duo Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk both netting, inspired an emphatic 6-0 victory over relegation-threatened Leeds.
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Hide AdLiverpool simply had to put the pressure on City ahead of kick-off. It was imperative they took full advantage of their game in hand.
They didn't do just that. They cranked up the intensity to the maximum and sent Pep Guardiola and his troops on the other side of the M62 an emphatic message.
The Spaniard would have been calling the Reds more than a pain in the backside as he watched on. That phrase would have been tepid.
A few more derogatory words were probably bellowed. He knows it’ll take something significant to derail Liverpool’s burgeoning impetus.
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Hide AdSalah now has 27 goals for the season and is showing no signs of stopping . Mane's come back from winning AFCON in barnstorming style.
Diaz has hit the ground running since his arrival. Thiago is showing the form fans were so excited to see when he arrived. Henderson is well and truly over his dip. Van Dijk is back to his imperious best. We could go on.
Most importantly, Liverpool's squad has never been stronger. Despite Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino out injured, Klopp could still afford to omit Harvey Elliott and Joe Gomez from his match-day squad.
Confidence is at an all-time high in the Anfield dressing room. It'll sky-rocket even further if the Carabao Cup is yielded.
And City will be looking anxiously in the rear-view mirror.
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