Liverpool have been handed a boost in the Premier League title race, according to three ESPN pundits, who say that Aymeric Laporte’s injury could prove costly for Manchester City.
Realistically, it will be either the Reds or Pep Guardiola’s side who are the champions this season, because the other teams are so far behind at the current time.
Just like last year, it will come down to the fine margins to determine who comes out on top, and with the French defender – who is probably second only to Virgil van Dijk in terms of the Premier League centre-back hierarchy – injured for a few months, that could be pivotal.
According to the Daily Mirror, Laporte is expected to be out with a knee injury until at least the New Year, by which time the Reds will have faced City at Anfield (in mid-November).
Via Football Transfer Tavern, Shaka Hislop, Steve Nicol and Brian McBride were discussing the situation for ESPN and were emphatic in their stance that the Laporte injury is a huge boost, exclaiming “Yes!” and “100 per cent” when asked whether it will help the Reds.
City have incredible depth all over the pitch, but there is no doubt that at centre-back is where they are weakest. John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi are simply not as good and Vincent Kompany departed over the summer with no one coming in to replace him.
No one wishes injury on any player, but the fact is that Laporte being missing for a period of time can only help the Reds in their quest to end the league title drought.