Title Race: Ex-Liverpool man is the only one who can stop Man City
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ManchesterCity’s narrow 1-0 victory over Burnley on Sunday means it’s as you were at thetop of Premier League. The Cityzens remain one-point clear of Liverpool and are2/11for the title with two matches left to play.
Jurgen Klopp and co. did their bit atAnfield on Friday. The Reds stuck five past Huddersfield Town to keep thepressure on at the summit. But could it be an ex-Liverpool manager who holdsthe key to the title race?
Here’s why Brendan Rodgers and co. could give his old employers a helping hand when 22/1 shots Leicester City visit the Etihad Stadium next Monday…
City don’t like pace
Pace. It’s adefender’s worst nightmare. Just ask VincentKompany. The Belgian centre-half was run ragged by Son Heung-min when City metTottenham in the Champions League earlier in the month.
Having aspeedy frontline has been one of the few ways to get success against thechampions this season. Daniel James of Swansea and Maxwel Cornet of Lyon aretwo more beneficiaries alongside Son.
That leads usnicely to Jamie Vardy. Not only hasthe Englishman struck 34 times against the Premier League’s top-six, he alsohas pace to burn. He’ll love playing off the shoulder of City’s centre-halves.
Leicester won’t sit back
We’ve alreadyidentified pace as a key component of Leicester’s game, although that’s notexactly hard. But it’s how the Foxes use it at the Etihad which will be crucial.
CrystalPalace showed in December that if you attack City at the right moments they’revulnerable. Leicester are in pretty much the same mould.
Rodgers won’tgo there and stick 11 men behind the ball for 90 minutes. He’ll set-up his sideto counter-attack at the right times, which should cause Pep Guardiola and co.plenty of problems.
With one ofthe most creative midfields in the Premier League and two flying full-backs,there’s no question that Leicester have the armoury required to really hurtCity. Unai Emery and Arsenal will attest.
The narrative
Now look. Weknow it’s not an exact science. But everyone loves a bit of narrative. And youcan bet your bottom dollar that Rodgers will give it his all to help out hisold club.
The Ulstermancame within inches of guiding Liverpool to their first Premier League titleback in 2014, only to be denied on the final day by a rampant Man City underManuel Pellegrini.
It’d be anironic twist if Rodgers could deliver the title to Anfield with a resultagainst their title rivals, while another ex-Reds manager in Rafael Benitez takeson Liverpool in Newcastle.
It ain’t over‘til it’s over. And this title race still has some legs yet.
All Odds and Markets correct as ofdate of publication
