Liverpool will NOT win Premier League title because of one player – Steve Nicol

Liverpool are second in the Premier League table, one point behind Manchester City with two games of the campaign remaining.

Nicol is confident City will win their final two matches against Leicester and Brighton and therefore prevent Jurgen Klopp’s side from their first Premier League title.

Despite the possibility of finishing the season on 97 points, Nicol says Liverpool’s shortcomings is a lack of options behind the attacking front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

He says the fact Divock Origi is the first backup option is an issue and reckons that is an area that needs strengthening in the summer.

“We all expect City to win the last two games, certainly I do, which means Liverpool won’t win the league,” Nicol told ESPN FC.

“Now, to get better, they have to strengthen, particularly up front.

“The front three, if you took any of them away, right now we’re looking at Origi coming in. That’s one huge drop off from the normal front three.

“You can’t have that if you want to win titles and you only have to look at Man City for an example. If [Sergio] Aguero comes off, they’re bringing on [Gabriel] Jesus.

“So Liverpool, in order to take that final step, I think they’re solid at the back, I think they’re real solid and do the job Klopp wants in the middle, but I just think you need a little help up front.

“A bit of cover so that he can maybe rest one or two a little more often.

“But certainly if needs be and somebody gets injured, you can’t have the drop off they have right now.”

But Nicol says it will be difficult to bring in a high quality player who is happy to sit on the bench at Liverpool.

“I think you bring somebody in who would fit seamlessly in when needed in that system,” he continued.

“The problem is, what kind of player are you going to get?

“Are you going to get the finished article to come to Liverpool and play second fiddle to the front three right now? That’s going to be very difficult.

“It’s going to have to be in my opinion a younger player who’s on the rise that Liverpool can bring in, who will be willing to sit and bide his time and eventually get his starting place in the front three.

“So that’s really the problem Liverpool will have.”

source: express.co.uk