Liverpool star Joel Matip has opened up on if the Anfield natives can rival Manchester City to win the Premier League title in the 2023/24 season under coach Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds are now three seasons removed of winning their only Premier League title to date. Klopp led Liverpool to their first top-flight title in 30 years at Manchester City’s expense over the 2019/20 campaign. They also finished second to the Citizens in 2018/19 and in 2021/22.
Liverpool came agonisingly close to ending their top-flight title draught in 18/19. The crown went to Etihad Stadium by just one point on the final day of the season. But the Reds replied in the Covid-disrupted 19/20 campaign to lift the title by 18 points with a seismic haul of 99.
Injuries have stopped Liverpool from rivalling Manchester City
Endless injuries ensured Liverpool could not defend their title during the 2020/21 season as Klopp juggled problem after problem. The Reds rarely had their first-choice line-up available. Absences for Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez in defence especially proved problematic.
Klopp would again juggle frequent absences over the 2022/23 season as Liverpool recorded their lowest Premier League finish since 2015/16. The Anfield natives only sealed fifth place and a Europa League position after injuries to Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Ibrahima Konate.
The 23/24 season has already not been without fitness problems on Merseyside, too. Klopp has dealt without Thiago and Konate again, while Van Dijk also missed two games due to his suspension. Yet Liverpool sit third in the Premier League through their opening five fixtures.
What has Matip said about the 23/24 Premier League title race?
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Only defending champions Manchester City (15) have taken more points than Liverpool (13) in 23/24, as well. The Citizens have produced a perfect start to their title defence to sit over Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Arsenal as the sole remaining unbeaten teams this term.
Liverpool will now look to further their title hopes at home to West Ham United on Sunday. But Matip is already looking forward to November when the Reds visit Manchester City and March when the Citizens visit Liverpool as he knows the games will decide their title hopes.
“We have two games against them – we can beat them,” Matip told Sky Germany. “We will demand everything from them in the games and then we want to win. We have no control over what else they do. We have to do our job.”