Danny Murphy was philosophical about Liverpool’s standing in the Premier League title race after the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Reds came into the weekend as leaders but ended it in second after Arsenal and Manchester City both won convincingly on Saturday, in contrast with Jurgen Klopp’s side failing to punish an inferior Manchester United outfit yesterday.
Despite that setback, though, we’re still level on points with the table-topping Gunners (who lead on goal difference) and one ahead of the reigning champions. With seven matches remaining, there’s ample time for further plot twists.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2, Murphy said of Liverpool’s draw at Old Trafford: “It felt like a defeat because of the dominance and the amount of chances that they had. They had enough chances to win a couple of games, really.
“Sometimes when you play in a big game, you can feel comfortable when you’ve only got a point if you’ve played OK. Because they’ve played so well, that’s why it feels so bad. They were in control of the game.
“The key now is how you respond. It is disappointing but they’re only second on goal difference. There’s still some bumps on the road maybe yet for Arsenal and City, and there’s loads of big games coming up. They’re still in a great position; just put it to bed [and focus on] the next game now.”
That’s a fair assessment from Murphy – yesterday was a case of two points dropped, but it’s certainly not fatal to our title hopes.
If Liverpool can be more ruthless in both penalty boxes, there’s still a Premier League crown there for the taking, and there’s no guarantee that the other two contenders won’t slip up themselves over the next six weeks.
The Reds simply need to take care of their own business and see where it leaves them in the final reckoning.
You can view Murphy’s comments below, via @BBCMOTD on X:
'There are still some bumps in the road to come.'
It's all about how Liverpool respond now, according to Danny Murphy.
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— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 7, 2024