The return of Diogo Jota means Jurgen Klopp now has his five-man, 82-goal frontline all available to him for Liverpool's run-in(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Liverpool about to unleash biggest weapon in title battle with City and Arsenal

For all the fatalism around Liverpool's season after their 3-0 Europa League defeat to Atalanta, one simple fact remains as the Reds host Crystal Palace on Sunday

14 Apr 2024, 04:00 by Paul Gorst · Liverpool Echo

Liverpool about to unleash biggest weapon in Premier League title battle with Man City and Arsenal

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Having dared to dream for so long, Liverpool are in danger of seeing their season unravel after a difficult few days.

Despite dominating at Manchester United, in a game that saw 28 shots and 62% possession at Old Trafford, the Reds lost their grip on top spot in the Premier League with a 2-2 draw, seeing Arsenal leapfrog them by the slender advantage of their goal difference.

If, a week on from that result, a point does not look as damaging as it did immediately after the final whistle, it has ceded control from Liverpool's hands, meaning they now require a slip up from Mikel Arteta's men or increase their own goal difference considerably in the coming weeks.

Given the wild abandon and lack of control that have characterised Liverpool's games in recent months, a stumble from the Gunners looks more likely, even if the Reds will argue they have the firepower to significantly add to the margin.

The 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the Europa League on Thursday night was a genuine shock; a jarring sort of result that led to many recalibrations of just what this side is capable of this season.

From chasing a quartet of trophies back in February, the Reds are now on the brink of a quarter-final exit in Europe's secondary competition having been dumped out of the FA Cup at the same stage by fierce rivals United.

But for those with a more fatalistic viewpoint on recent events, a pesky fact remains this weekend: victory against Crystal Palace at Anfield will see Liverpool become Premier League leaders once more.

Then it is over to Arsenal to see how they fare against a Champions League-chasing Aston Villa at the Emirates. How the North Londoners handle the pressure will be interesting if Klopp's players are able to shake off the disappointment of a frustrating week. The Reds must handle their own business first and foremost though.

The omens remain firmly in Liverpool's favour on that front, despite seeing a 14-month, 33-game unbeaten home record fall by the wayside earlier this week. In the Premier League, the Reds remain without loss in 28 games at Anfield, dating back to October 2022, drawing just six of those games in that time. That 2-1 setback against Leeds United was their first at Anfield in front of supporters since April 23, 2017. Sam Allardyce's Palace were the visitors on that day seven years ago.

Only Manchester United have denied them scoring in the Premier League this term and that was before Christmas. With Diogo Jota once more back in contention, that Klopp has his five-man, 82-goal frontline all available to him is another aspect that will understandably concern Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

A goal-laden campaign sees the Reds just three short of their entire total for last term with seven games left to play and while the exertions of that season were not the most memorable, results like 9-0, 7-0 and 6-1 (against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Leeds United, respectively) were still in that mix, which highlights how explosive Klopp's team have been at times this time out.

The return of Jota cannot be overstated. The Portugal international's Boxing Day comeback, at Burnley, was the start of a run that saw him register six goals before he was cut down while in red-hot form at Brentford in mid-February. The former Wolves star has 14 goals from just 18 starts.

Jota might have done better with a couple of presentable chances that fell his way on Thursday night but his failure to make more of the couple of headers were understandable given the rust that has accumulated during his near two-month absence with a knee injury.

The Reds have lost only one of the 18 games he has started - in Tolouse back in November - and his shot conversion rate of 19.2, according to Opta statistics, is the highest at Liverpool since the 2010/11 campaign. In a contrasting with those currently at the club, Jota is posting a conversion rate of 25%, which the best of Klopp's sharpshooters.

The No.20 was desperate to ensure he could feature at the business end to make his mark for the Reds and see himself included in Portugal's European Championships squad this summer. Having missed the World Cup after a serious calf injury in a victory over Manchester City in October 2022, Jota is said to have worked overtime to regain his fitness.

How long it now takes him to regain top speed will be an important factor in what Liverpool are able to achieve going forward but his scampering, hard-working nature will be needed for the coming weeks. How they missed him in both games at Old Trafford, for example.

For Palace, they arrive on Merseyside without a win in their last 10 having suffered six defeats in that time, including last week's 4-2 loss at home to Manchester City. Only Brentford and Sheffield United are on a worse run than that presently in the Premier League.

The potential return of Michael Olise does offer hope for an Eagles side who will look to contain and counter but Sunday is a real opportunity for Liverpool to get themselves back on track for a massive few weeks.

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