Manchester City’s win over Watford on Saturday afternoon will not have come as a shock to many, though the consequences of the result could have greater implications than first imagined.
Beating the Hornets 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium, City moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League and issued yet another reminder to Liverpool that they will not be giving an inch from now until the end of the season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have shown serious fighting spirit to claw themselves back into title contention in recent months, which began on the back of a 2-2 draw away to Chelsea at the start of January and has not faltered since.
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The Reds have gradually reduced the gap to top spot, though have remained ahead of City in one key department for a number of weeks: goal difference. All of Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have scored 14 or more Premier League goals this campaign, meanwhile the reliable defensive duo of Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk have helped limit opportunities at the other end of the pitch.
Not since the 2012/13 season have Liverpool outscored the Sky Blues during a top-flight campaign, though it is the Reds who are leading the way in the final third of the pitch this term. City’s inability to replace Sergio Aguero has certainly stifled their goalscoring ability, with the likes of Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden serving as unorthodox false nines to cater for the lack of output in the striker's position.
City are now just three goals short of the Reds’ tally of 83 in the Premier League during 2021/22, however, after hitting Watford for five on Saturday. It also means the reigning champions now trail Liverpool by an overall goal difference of just three, which could prove pivotal in the weeks ahead.
Recognising how his side needed to do more to make marginal gains on Klopp’s men, Guardiola admitted after a 2-0 away win at Burnley earlier this month that this was an area his team were falling short in. “We had two or three chances to score and kill the game and get more for our goal difference against Liverpool, but after an international break it always uncertain how the players will come back,” he said of City’s inferior record.
In a title race that looks capable of going down to the final day, the smallest details can make the biggest difference when dictating who will land a killer blow. There’s every chance the two teams could be level on points heading into the final fixture of the gruelling league schedule, with Liverpool hoping to avoid a painful repeat scenario of how the 2018/19 season ended.
Goal difference would be the deciding factor should there be nothing to split the sides after completing the league calendar, making it all the more important that the Reds do not allow City to edge ahead in this department.
Few will forget how the Sky Blues secured their maiden Premier League crown a decade ago, snatching the title away from bitter rivals Manchester United courtesy of Aguero’s stoppage-time winner versus QPR. Both clubs had ended the 2011/12 campaign level on 89 points apiece, with a goal difference swing of eight resulting in Roberto Mancini’s men making history.
The Argentine's goal remains an iconic moment in the English game, though Liverpool won’t wish to experience the sickening feeling of seeing title hopes fade in the cruellest of circumstances.
