sport news The big winners in a manic month will be Liverpool and Harry Maguire WILL get a ... trends now
October will separate the men from the boys. Most of the clubs competing in Europe have nine matches next month — yes, nine — and that includes Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
The Reds have got Brighton, Rangers, Arsenal, Rangers again, Manchester City, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Ajax and Leeds between now and Halloween.
That is enough to make a few fans nervous. Muscular injuries haven’t been kind to Liverpool. That’s how most of their players pick up problems, like Thiago Alcantara, who’s been missed in midfield with a hamstring injury.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool could resurrect their title challenge if they have a good October
That’s natural, given the work this group put in to implement Klopp’s style of play.
Even the machine-like James Milner has broken down in the past because of it. But I’m not here to be miserable. I want to look at the silver lining to this schedule and, for Liverpool, this manic month could be a blessing in disguise.
Klopp’s training has been described as ‘brutal’ and ‘extremely hard’ and I suspect that these players will embrace this match list because there will be no time for intense sessions in between.
They can use this relentless schedule to establish a winning rhythm and resurrect their season.
It’s go time for Klopp’s Liverpool, because right now, they trail Manchester City by a whopping eight points and are being written off in the title race as a result.
BONKERS SCHEDULE SHOULD GIVE MAGUIRE A CHANCE TO START
Harry Maguire turns more slowly than cheese apparently. Turns like a cruise liner. Turns as if he’s a turtle towing a caravan.
He doesn’t. That’s all an exaggeration. He’s a good player, Maguire. But as I said in my round-table chat with my Sportsmail columnists on Wednesday, he can’t start for England if he isn’t starting for his club, Manchester United.
That’s another bonus of this bonkers schedule because it should give him a few chances to start. Erik ten Hag has no obligation to England boss Gareth Southgate to use Maguire.
Harry Maguire should get the chance to start for Manchester United as games come fast
But it would be surprising if Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were asked to start all nine of United’s fixtures even if they are the manager’s preferred partnership. That would be too much.
Their last Premier League match was a 3-1 win over Arsenal on September 4.
It renewed belief. But if they get spanked by Manchester City on Sunday the reaction won’t be pleasant and Ten Hag will realise that doom and gloom is never far away from United.
DIEGO COSTA TO WOLVES LOOKS LIKE A PANIC SIGNING TO ME
Diego Costa is box office. A ferocious piece of work who defenders hate to face.
But do not expect to see the same Costa who wowed us between 2014 and 2017 as Chelsea’s snarling super-striker.
The 33-year-old’s last game was in
