London (AFP)
The matches of the 24th day of the Premier League on Saturday looked like a transfer of power: Liverpool, beaten at Leicester (3-1), admits that it will probably be impossible to take back Manchester City, which flies away after its victory (3-0) over Tottenham.
- Liverpool no longer believes it
"No, honestly, I do not think we can close this gap (on City) this year," said a resigned Jürgen Klopp after the third consecutive defeat of his team in the league.
A year after regaining a title that had eluded them for 30 years, the Reds are 4th to 13 points from the Citizens who will play a game late on Wednesday.
"We don't care about the title anymore, we're not dumb," Klopp said.
"We have a tough game on Tuesday (in the knockout stages of the Champions League against Leipzig) and then another Saturday, a derby" against Everton who could join the Reds on points if they win Sunday against Fulham.
His team is now fighting to keep a ticket in C1, an important competition for its financial balance.
In addition to Everton who have, in addition, two games late to play, Chelsea and West Ham are on the lookout for one point and receive two poorly classified Monday, Newcastle and the red lantern Sheffield United.
The defeat against Leicester - who temporarily becomes City runner-up, pending Manchester United's match at the penultimate West Bromwich Albion on Sunday - could leave marks in people's minds.
The champion produced an encouraging performance for 70 minutes, dominating the game and roughly controlling Leicester's blocks.
He even thought he was doing the hard part when Roberto Firmino chained in the control-rake-heel area for Mohamed Salah, whose strike wound in Kasper Schmeichel's small right net opened the scoring (1-0, 67th).
But that advantage didn't last and the Reds collapsed after the equalizer, conceding three goals in seven minutes.
It was first a free kick from James Maddison, at the edge of the penalty area, who came in without anyone, especially not Alisson (already at fault in two of City's four goals at the weekend last) do not touch (1-1, 78th).
Three minutes later, Alisson, coming out of his area, and Turkish defender Ozan Kabak, whose first match was in red, collided, offering the ball to Jamie Vardy who scored in the empty goal (2-1 , 81st), before Harvey Barnes drives the point home (3-1, 85th).
"In difficult times I know the only way out is to play good football, to fight and to work hard. We can still do it and that is what we will continue to do. We must continue to do it. ", hammered Klopp, shaken.
- City, always higher
There is definitely a class of difference between Manchester City and the rest of the Premier League right now, and it is starting to show in the standings.
By beating without suffering Spurs, it is true, in the hard, the double champions 2018 and 2019 kept seven points ahead of Leicester, with one game less, and eight over United who have the same number (23) .
But it is especially in the game that the impression of ease amazes with 11 consecutive victories in the league for a cumulative score of 28 to 2.
Apart from a free kick from Harry Kane on the post (14th), the Londoners could not do anything against the Mancunian machine and its metronome, Ilkay Gündogan who, match after match, never ceases to impress.
He first got the penalty for opening the scoring in the 21st.
An exercise in which City has not shone lately and which still almost did not smile at him, but the hand of Hugo Lloris was not firm enough to take out Rodri's shot (1-0, 23rd).
The German midfielder then scored twice in the second half, (2-0, 50th and 3-0, 66th), served directly for his second achievement by goalkeeper Ederson.
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