It’s crunch time for Liverpool.
Fans of the Reds will be desperate to see their side win the Premier League title this season, but will know that their fate is no longer in their hands following Man City’s win over Man United on Wednesday.
With just two games remaining, Jurgen Klopp’s team could finish the campaign with an eye-watering 97 points – more than any other Premier League championship winning side, with the exception of City last season – and still not secure their first title since 1990.
As it stands, the Reds are top of the table after their Friday night thrashing of Huddersfield, but City will return to the summit if they beat Burnley on Sunday.
If Liverpool are going to win this thing, they’re going to need some help.
Step forward former bosses Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers.
The two ex-Anfield gaffers each came agonisingly close to bringing the title to Merseyside during their respective tenures.
Rodgers’ bid was infamously undone by Steven Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea – followed by his side’s late capitulation at Crystal Palace – in 2014, while Rafa was mind-boggled by Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United in 2009.
But now at Leicester, Rodgers could do his former employers a massive favour by getting the better of Man City in their game at the Etihad next weekend.
After all, the Foxes still have plenty to play for themselves, with seventh place very much up for grabs – and along with it a place in the Europa League (if City beat Watford in the FA Cup Final, that is).
What’s more, Leicester have already triumphed over City this season, memorably coming from behind to beat them 2-1 at the King Power on Boxing Day.
Rodgers’ side are also in relatively good form at the moment, having recently enjoyed four wins in a row to overturn their poor run of results under Claude Puel.
Jamie Vardy is in fine form too, netting six times in his last six appearances and he just loves scoring against the big boys – having netted five goals against City in the past.
Better still, two days before City’s clash with Leicester, Liverpool travel to Newcastle and the new home of their beloved old manager Benitez.
The Spaniard spent six years at the club, still has a family home on Merseyside and would certainly love to see Liverpool win the league.
But that doesn’t mean he’ll set up his side to lose the game, with Alan Shearer backing this up on Premier League Today after City’s win over United, saying: “I keep hearing people saying that Rafa Benitez will want Liverpool to win the league. Believe me, Rafa will not want to give Liverpool anything.”
Of course, the old cliche is that anything could happen between now and the end of the season.
Liverpool face Newcastle next weekend before the slightly daunting game with giant-killing Wolves on the last day of the season.
Similarly, City go to Burnley on Sunday before hosting Leicester, and then travel to relegation-threatened Brighton on the final day.
It’s certainly going to be a nail-biter.