Liverpool have the Advantage on Manchester City in the Premier League title race, according to Graeme Souness.
Jurgen Klopp’s side, who have now won five out of five in the league, opened up a gap to protecting champions Manchester City over the weekend after Pep Guardiola’s side fell to a surprise 3-2 defeat at Carrow Road on Saturday.
Not having Aymeric Laporte, that faces up to six months out, has proven pricey with John Stones both fighting and Nicolas Otamendi at the loss to Norwich.
When asked if Laporte’s lack gives Liverpool the advantage in the title race, Souness told Sky Sports News:”I believe so. With Laporte’s harm I thought City could find it hard against the better teams. With all due regard to Norwich, they did a number on these.
“I thought they’d get by in many games but against better teams they would find it hard to defend and get caught out.
It’s not a large advantage, you have to keep in mind that we are in September but first blood has gone to Liverpool. They’ve momentum and nobody is asking any questions of these while all eyes are on City.”
Souness feels that the performance culture instilled by Klopp at Anfield is currently attracting the very best from Liverpool’s players.
“They’re a group I don’t think anybody enjoys playing against because they’re competitive and they test every component of the game with the physicality and technique they all have,” he added.
“They behave as a team. They have players who are prepared to point fingers at team-mates if they are not at it although it is unusual in the game. That makes them.
“They’re the group that nobody likes playing against, people will say that about City in a different way. You’ve got to be in your very best against them.”
Stones should be given a opportunity to have an extended streak in the beginning line-up of Guardiola by the absence of laporte.
Souness believes that the England international has the capability to be among the best defenders in Europe when he can improve his decision making.
“[City] need to trust Stones and Otamendi could form a partnership.
“I think Stones is just missing something, whether it’s his decision-making? He has the capability to be the very best, better than all of them other than [Virgil] van Dijk.
“He needs to receive his decision spot on, if he gets that City could have among the greatest centre-halves from the nation, maybe away from the country.”
Graeme Souness spoke for Cancer Research UK during the Yearly Bobby Moore Charity Golf Day. Cancer Research UK spends on gut cancer study that was committed the profits.
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