The last four teams to sit atop the Premier League table on Christmas have all gone on to win the title. That means nothing to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, whose side sat in first place on the 2018 yuletide. No matter what happens tomorrow on Boxing Day, when every team in the league is in action, his team will remain in the penthouse, as they currently four points above Manchester City.
Liverpool are also the only side not to lose a league fixture this season.
“Don’t think because we have that amount of points and they have that amounts of points (we will win the league title). If you think that, then that’s the moment when things go wrong,” Klopp said at a news conference ahead of the Boxing Day clash versus Newcastle United.
“And they can still go wrong, that’s how life is. We have to be focused. We all have to be. Not nervous; I’ve heard how many times in the last 10 years that when you’re first at Christmas you win the title, but only Liverpool won’t. Wow, you are afraid to say it, because you think I know it.”
“It’s all bullshit stories. What is it? What does it mean? It’s a different team, a different time, everything was different. It’s not interesting. If it wasn’t the case and Liverpool went on to become champions, would I think now halfway through the season that the job is done? Of course not.”
It’s also worth noting that two teams this decade sat in first place on Christmas Day and did NOT win it all. Both were Liverpool sides (2008-09 and 2013-14).
Maybe that’s why Jurgen Klopp believes it’s a “bullshit story.”
Liverpool FC vs Newcastle United FYIs
Kick-off: 3pm (BST), 10am (EST) Wednesday December 26, Anfield
Google Result Probability: Liverpool win- 83%, Draw 12%, Newcastle win- 5%
Odds via Sport Pesa: Liverpool win 4/25, draw 27/4, Newcastle 17/1
Injury Report: go to this link
Jurgen Klopp Preview Press Conference Video:
Prediction: Liverpool 1, Newcastle 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.