It might only be October, but some Manchester United fans are starting to worry about the prospect of Liverpool ending their long title drought.
The Reds are closing in on three decades without top-flight glory, but Jürgen Klopp has made such a quick impact that top spot in the Premier League is by no means out of reach.
And one of the United fans starting to express concern is Ryan Giggs, who admits ‘Liverpool have put themselves in contention this year’.
Writing in his Daily Telegraph column, Giggs suggests the lack of European distractions could help Klopp’s side rise to the top at the time of reckoning.
‘During that final against Sevilla, it occurred to me that if Liverpool had this season without the draining effect of European football, and had recruited well in the summer, then they would have a real chance of challenging for the Premier League,’ Giggs writes.
‘With a year at the club, Klopp would be better suited to the demands of the English game, his players would be well adapted to his way of playing and they would have no mid-week distraction from the task at the weekend.’
Liverpool are currently level on points with league leaders Manchester City, and could go top with victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday if other results go their way.
They won the corresponding fixture last season, but the matchwinner that day – Christian Benteke – has since swapped Anfield for Selhurst Park.
Parting dig from Christian Benteke https://t.co/4dh2KDVQu8
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 22, 2016
Giggs has admitted that the prospect of a Liverpool title victory ‘fills me with dread’, and he anticipates the Reds would kick on once they break their Premier League duck.
‘Liverpool have put themselves in contention this year,’ Giggs wrote. ‘At United, I always wondered, because of their history, that when – or if – that first Premier League title came along Liverpool might win a few more on the back of it.
‘My view is that it will be more difficult in the present day for one club to dominate as United did in the 1990s and 2000s but Liverpool would not settle for one Premier League. They would want more.’
There are still 29 games to go, but with other clubs facing European distractions between now and May it would be foolish to write off Liverpool this early.
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