Soccer

    Liverpool back in Premier League title hunt as bookies get the jitters

    Scott AllenScott Allen21 February 2022
    Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates after the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal in Liverpool, Britain, on Nov. 20, 2021.

    Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates after the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal in Liverpool, Britain, on Nov. 20, 2021.

    Bookies are getting nervy about a late Liverpool title charge and have shortened their odds to snatch the Premier League from Manchester City's grasp.

    A week ago, everyone had pretty much handed the Premier League title to Manchester City on a silver platter. Then along come out-of-form Tottenham and dish out a surprise wake-up call to those at the Etihad Stadium.

    The bookmakers now have Liverpool at 7/2 to win the title, slashed from 6/1. City are still odds on favourites at 2/7, however, after they beat Norwich 4-0 a week ago they were as nailed on as 1/14 to retain the Premier League title. Now the bookies are getting spooked, and the ones who paid out early are already kicking themselves.

    Two goals from Harry Kane helped Spurs grab an unlikely 3-2 win over City on Saturday afternoon, which cut their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points at after Liverpool came from behind to defeat Norwich earlier in the day.
    City looked to have snatched a draw right at the death as Riyad Mahrez converted a penalty following Cristian Romero's handball.
    However, there was still time for Kane, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, to rescue a famous victory for Spurs as he headed Dejan Kulusevski's cross beyond Ederson.

    Second-placed Liverpool are now licking their lips at a possible Manchester City choke.

    The Reds have racked up 57 points from their 25 games, are the top-flight's only unbeaten team at home. They have also only suffered two defeats, City now have three.

    That's an average of 2.28 points per game and over the course of a full season that same rate would give them a final total of 86.6pts.
    That's just above the winning total for Manchester City in the previous campaign.
    Liverpool have won their last four matches, have a game in hand over City and are still to travel to the Etihad.
    Should they win that April 9 clash, they could bring themselves level with the so-called champions elect.
    Another plus for Jurgen Klopp is that seven of Liverpool's remaining 13 games are at Anfield where they're brushing teams aside again.
    To reel in City would still be a massive ask but their defeat to Spurs has opened the door again, and a second Premier League title in three years could be on the cards again.

    Read more: Mohamed Salah reaches 150 goals for Liverpool - A look at his milestone goals along the way