Liverpool legend John Aldridge has pointed out the matches that will eventually decide the Premier League race this season.
Liverpool and Manchester City are engaged in a very tight race and Aldridge believes Man City will have their title credentials tested by Crystal Palace when they meet for the second leg. Palace is the only side to have beaten the Citizens at the Etihad Stadium this season when they shocked them with a 3-2 win back in December.
“You may be surprised to see the Palace v City game on my list of potentially decisive fixtures, but it’s there for good reason. City’s draining schedule includes the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley, a Champions League quarter-final first leg at Tottenham’s new stadium the following Tuesday before they face Palace at Selhurst Park and the return European leg against Spurs. They play all of those games in just 14 days.” Aldridge told The Daily Star.
“It’s a run of fixtures that would push any team to their limits and if they pick up injuries and maybe have a bad result at some point along the way, the game at Palace could be one to watch as a potential stumbling block in their Premier League fixture list. Palace memorably beat City at the Etihad Stadium in December and that result will unquestionably be in the minds of City players when they go to Selhurst Park, where the atmosphere is always intense from the home fans.’ he added.
Liverpool, who have played one more match than Man City, will face Tottenham Hotspur but Aldridge has tipped his former side to win the encounter.
“Liverpool’s next game against Tottenham is obviously a huge game but I believe Klopp’s men will win it. The Manchester derby is another fixture that could see City dropping points away, but we can’t just look at the big games as being decisive when the pressure is this intense,” he concluded.