It’s more or less a matter of when rather than if the Reds end their 30-year wait for a Premier League title. But how soon can they lift the trophy, when’s the likeliest – and how might they do it against a rival?
Having won 25 of their opening 26 Premier League fixtures – and drawing the other, might we add – Liverpool have opened up the biggest gap at the top of the table in Premier League history. Barring a slip of unimaginable proportions, Jurgen Klopp’s side will win the league this season. How and when they do it is still not set in stone, however. Here, we take a look at the various scenarios.
What is the soonest Liverpool could lift the title?
Date: Saturday, 7 March
Opponent: Bournemouth
A win over West Ham on Monday night will move them 22 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with just 33 points still up for grabs.
This means they could seal the title in the next two games, provided they win both and Manchester City lose both. Unlikely, perhaps, but with Pep Guardiola’s side now almost exclusively focused on their Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.
In this scenario, Liverpool would win the title with a victory at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, 7 March.
How could they win it against Everton away?
Date: Monday, 16 March
Opponent: Everton
As if sealing the title after such a long wait wasn’t a grand enough prospect already, many Liverpool fans would be willing to forego celebrations at Bournemouth for a chance to do it at Goodison Park a week later.
Lifting the Premier League trophy in the home of fierce local rivals Everton would make it that bit sweeter. Arsenal fans can vouch for that, having famously sealed their 2003-04 title at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane. They still sing songs about that afternoon to this very day.
Assuming they defeat West Ham, Liverpool would need to win their next two fixtures before beating Everton on 16 March. They’ll also need Man City to take between five and seven points in the same period – namely, to draw one of their next three and win the others. Be very afraid, Everton fans.
How could they win it against Manchester City away?
Date: Sunday, 5 April
Opponent: Manchester City
Winning the title at the Etihad would be the cherry on top of an already stellar few seasons for Liverpool. After all, it was City that denied them glory last season in the most agonizing of circumstances. Liverpool lost just one game across the entire 2018-19 campaign, away to Manchester City. It ended up costing them the title, as they fell short by just two points despite amassing enough points to have won all but two top-flight titles in the history of English football.
To have a shot at revenge in Manchester, Liverpool would need to have dropped four points in the five matches leading up to that clash, assuming City win all of theirs. It’s certainly a possibility.
When would Liverpool win with their current lead?
Date: Saturday, 21 March
Opponent: Crystal Palace
Given both sides are the heavy favourites for every clash these days, the smart money is on Klopp’s side sealing the league title at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, 12 March.
That will be the outcome if both Liverpool and City win all of their next five matches from this weekend on. Not only would this provide Liverpool with an opportunity to celebrate with the trophy at Anfield, it would also mean they would receive their first guard of honour – a ceremonial offering of respect to newly crowned champions – at the Etihad in their next league game. That would almost be as sweet as actually sealing the title there.