Diogo Jota's a doubt but Cody Gakpo can lead latest show of strength as Liverpool power into Champions League last 16
Today at 08:08 AM
Results like Liverpool’s 2-0 victory at Brentford on Saturday, thanks to 91st and 93rd-minute goals from Darwin Nunez, are they type that win titles – especially when Arsenal then threw away two points at home to Aston Villa later in the day.
It’s increasingly looking as though the Premier League championship is Liverpool's to lose while the weekend turnarounds also give the Reds a welcome lift in confidence heading into their penultimate Champions League group match at home to Lille.
Had Nunez not handed maximum points to Arne Slot's table-toppers in west London the spotlight would have been on Liverpool's only victory in their last five matches being a 4-0 success against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup following draws against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in the league and a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Now the perspective is that they are back on track and in a strong position, six points clear of the Gunners and Nottingham Forest with a game in hand.
They are also top of the Champions League group standings and can punch their ticket directly to the knockout stages with victory against Lille in front of the Kop, although a point would be enough.
The Reds have won all six matches in Europe this season and their defence, which has only been breached once in that superb streak, should have enough about them to keep the visitors, who occupy the final automatic place into the round of 16, at bay.
Third in Ligue 1, Lille have not lost any of their last 21 matches but have drawn ten of them and, although they are unbeaten in their last 11 matches away from home, everyone knows Anfield on a European night is a different kettle of fish.
Canadian striker Jonathan David, who continues to be linked with a move to multiple clubs in England, will be a handful but he can be kept quiet by the hosts who are 5/6 with William Hill to win by more than one goal.
Liverpool’s superior strength in depth has been illustrated in recent days, with substitute Diogo Jota nabbing a point at Forest before Nunez came off the bench at Brentford to win the game.
Jota missed the Brentford win with a minor injury and was not seen at training on Monday, but this time Cody Gakpo can be the man to shine and the Dutch forward is 11/2 with all the major bookies to open the scoring and 13/8 with bet365 and Sky Bet to find the net at any time while a 2-0 home victory is 13/2 with Hills, bet365 and many others.
• Aston Villa's 2-2 draw at Arsenal after trailing by a couple of goals is the latest sign that Unai Emery's side are returning to form after a dodgy streak in the build-up to Christmas. The deserved draw follows wins at home to Leicester and West Ham and away to Everton and they should have enough about them to take their Champions League group match at faltering Monaco, who haven’t won in four games this year.
Just three points separates the two sides with an automatic ticket to the knockout stages at stake, but fifth-placed Villa can move further clear of their rivals with victory on the French Riviera at 9/5 with Betfair. Ollie Watkins bagged the equaliser at the Emirates Stadium and is 11/2 with Betfair, Sky Bet, Paddy Power and BoyleSports to net the first goal of the game and 9/5 with Betfair and Paddy Power to score at any time.
• Blackburn, QPR, Sheffield United and Wigan form Tuesday's Football League acca.
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