Sunday 15 January 2017 20:16, UK
In the Premier League title race, results against the other contenders are often key – and Liverpool currently have the best record among the leading teams when it comes to the top-six mini league.
Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Sunday means they have won three and drawn three of their games against the other leading sides this season.
The 12 points they’ve taken from those six games is three better than current Premier League leaders Chelsea. In contrast, Arsenal have taken just five points from five encounters with their title rivals.
The mini-table makes good reading for Liverpool supporters and Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness says they can take confidence from their results against the top teams.
However, he also warned they must make sure they raise their game against weaker opposition, to avoid dropping crucial points. Liverpool, after all, have already lost to Bournemouth and Burnley this season.
“I think it’s really encouraging for Liverpool,” Souness said. “It’s saying you’re a match and more for the teams that are liable to be challenging for the title.
“Big games take care of themselves, by that I mean, as a manager you don’t have a lot to say to them because they’re all wound up. It’s just the lesser games, where players need to get themselves up to that level for the lesser games and the ones you don’t expect to drop points to.
“But overall Liverpool have got to be encouraged by that table and the way they’ve played against Manchester United.”
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