sport news Liverpool may suffer from mental fatigue with five HUGE matches to come in the ... trends now
The talk was typically bullish and only to be expected. There was no concession of the title, no indication that they felt their race had been run.
Liverpool may have dropped Premier League points at Anfield for the first time in six months — Brighton, on October 30, had been the last team to leave with anything to show for their efforts — but there was still belief that the title could be landed.
'We try until the end,' stressed Fabinho, the influential midfielder. 'We know if we lose points in the fight against Man City, maybe it can cost the title. We didn't win but there were positive things and we are still alive. It's not easy playing every three days but we are still fighting.'
Liverpool's draw with Tottenham was the first time they had dropped points at home in 2022
The spirit of Jurgen Klopp's side is beyond doubt but there were moments during an absorbing contest with Tottenham that, correctly, finished with the spoils shared when you began to wonder what they have left in the tank.
This isn't a question about fitness. Heavy legs and aching muscles can be revived and Liverpool's sports science department will get the squad physically through the next 19 days and five huge games. The question here is whether mental fatigue will become an issue.
Drawing with Antonio Conte's superbly drilled team will but so did Manchester City striking twice in added time on Sunday, to significantly improve their goal difference. There was a point when it seemed Liverpool had a hand on City's shoulders — now they are just slightly out of reach.
What impact will that have? Liverpool may have been on a run that seems to have come from a PlayStation game but there has been nothing robotic about how it has been achieved. It has come with a huge emotional investment, the kind that takes a toll.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has some big selection decisions to make over the coming weeks
Mohamed Salah had a frustrating night against Spurs as he struggled to lead from the front
So how does Klopp go about addressing it? Does he continue with his 'A' team at Villa Park on Tuesday— the forward line of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz, the midfield of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago — knowing they need four goals to move back on top of the table?
Or does he make a number of changes, knowing that another failure to win — and you really should not underestimate how determined
