Liverpool an ‘annoying pain’ for others in title race

Liverpool have to fight in every game in their bid for the Premier League title in a race between the top three, manager Jurgen Klopp said after his side fell to second place in the standings following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

The point shared at Anfield left Liverpool in second place on goal difference and Arsenal on top. City are third on 63 points, one behind the top two, with 10 games left to be played in the closest title race since 2014.

The German was optimistic that his side would be a pain for the other two teams as Liverpool host Brighton & Hove Albion next in the league on March 31, the same day that City host Arsenal, which could further reshuffle the standings.

“We are this gritty, annoying, pain you will not get rid of… In our situation we cannot now run away from other teams,” Klopp told the club’s website.

“Arsenal are in incredible shape, the last five or six games I saw them – which were outstanding – they played pretty much exactly the same line-up. No (Gabriel) Martinelli but then you have (Leandro) Trossard, that’s good as well.

“We just have to fight through (the remaining 10 games) to be there.”

Liverpool, who won the League Cup last month, are fighting on all remaining fronts in the manager’s last season at the club. They host Sparta Prague on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie and travel to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.