This is it then. The final nine Premier League games of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign are upon us.
As it so often has been under Klopp, there’s so much riding on the end to the season for the Reds. It’s glory or despair for Liverpool.
Last season, the Reds’ last nine games coincided with a surprising turnaround in form. They won seven of them, drew two and ended up just missing out on a Champions League place by four points.
This time, the stakes are much higher. Matters aren’t helped by what Ian Wright has called three ‘big’ away games back-to-back later this month. However, a similar run of results to last year would likely see Liverpool lift the Premier League title and send Jurgen out on the highest of highs.
There’s still plenty of football to be played, but we’re now at the point where you can feasibly predict each result. And that’s exactly what TalkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has had a go at doing.
Gabriel Agbonlahor predicts Liverpool results
Agbonlahor hasn’t always been the most impartial pundit when it comes to Liverpool. Ever since being publicly called out by Klopp for some comments at the start of last season, he’s seemingly had an axe to grind with the Reds.
Agbonlahor even went as far as branding the Liverpool manager as a ‘big baby’ following some comments he made after beating Sheffield United last December.
Nevertheless, ahead of the Reds next meeting with the Blades tomorrow, the former Aston Villa has been much more complimentary. Predicting the results of Liverpool’s last nine fixtures, Agbonlahor backed Klopp to lift the title in May.
“I looked at the run-ins closely yesterday and I thought ‘Liverpool win the title,'” he says. “Sheffield United at home, can’t defend, win. Draw against Man United away. Palace, what are Palace playing for? Win. Fulham, decent at home but Fulham away I think they get result a there. Everton away, Liverpool find a way in local derby’s to win. West Ham away, you don’t know but I feel that Liverpool will beat them.
“Spurs at home I think they’ll win. I think they beat Aston Villa and final game of the season, imagine they have to in to win the title. Klopp’s last game at Anfield, they’ve got Wolves, they’re going to win that game.
“The run in, the confidence they’ve got. Watching them play as well, Szoboszlai, Salah, Nunez, Diaz, Harvey Elliott’s looking very good from the bench. They’ve got players to come back still, Curtis Jones. Konate was on the bench, he can’t get back into the team yet. Trent’s got to come back yet, Gomez is looking strong, Alisson’s got to come back. Just looking at Liverpool and thinking ‘is this meant to be with Klopp leaving.'”
How many points do Liverpool need
If Liverpool were to pick up the points that Agbonlahor is backing them for, they’d finish the season with 92. That would be their third best ever campaign.
It would also mean the Reds dropping just two more points – away to Manchester United on Sunday. That would be a pretty remarkable end to the season for Liverpool, but they’ve done it before.
94 is of course the maximum amount that Klopp and his team can now accrue. Two points further back, Arsenal can only reach 92, while Manchester City can make it to 91.
As a result, Liverpool can technically only afford to drop two more points. In that scenario they also need to get their goal difference a little more healthy, as Arsenal have six better in that respect right now. We’ll take Agbonlahor’s predictions all day long, mind you. Come on, Liverpool!