Liverpool’s Hoodoo And Uncertainty In The EPL -By Efe Agabi

Liverpool is currently 25 points clear at the top and requires only six more points to clinch the title for the first time since 1990. A lossless campaign would have ended the title race before the suspension of the league, but the hoodoo is still lurking around Anfield. Without exaggeration, Liverpool has merited the EPL title and indisputably positioned to lift the title for the first time in over 25 years.

The gap between the runaway leaders and the tiki-taka machines is still mathematically assailable, but only an unprecedented fall from grace would make it possible for Pep’s tiki-taka side to retain the trophy they won narrowly in 2019 when Liverpool created a record of the team with the highest runner up with 97 points, one point behind the winners’ Manchester City.

The points they garnered as runner-up would have been enough to win the trophy when the gunners did the invincible with 90 points in 2003, and when the red devils won the treble in 1999, clinching the EPL title with 79 points. But the failure became a catalyst for the 6 times European champions to trudge on. While pundits permutated that they reached their peak in the 2018/2019 season, and would be complacent and lethargic after missing the opportunity to lift the EPL trophy, the German tactician has again produced a sterling performance, trudging on in spite of the competitiveness of the league. They have ground out unexpected results when the odds were not favorable, a 3:1 convincing win against Man City, and one all draw at Old Trafford are sufficient to convince doubters that the trophy is destined for Anfield. The icing on the cake would have been invincible to secure bragging right and to flex muscles and rub shoulders with the invincible gunners, but no thanks to Watford that produced a dramatic 3:1 win over the reds, it would have been 5:1 if Watford were more clinical in front of goal. With the dramatic elimination of Liverpool from the Champions League by the Spanish side.

The EPL is the only consolation that would complement the attacking football that has attracted encomiums and accolades from supporters and bitter rivals. But their destiny is no longer in their hands, the novel Covid-19 virus has crippled all facets of human endeavors, and football is the worst hit. With major leagues suspended across Europe, which is currently the hotbed of the virus, there is no date in sight for football to resume. The FIFA President without mincing words stated that football would only return if it is safe, 100 percent safe, a statement that may suggest outright nullification of the current season, to assume it did not happen, but how the top four would be determined for qualification to the champions league is a puzzle left for the football Association to fix. Also very dicey is that teams in the relegation zone are at daggers drawn. This may be a succor for the reds who may rely on a decision to complete the season behind closed doors, an idea that is still under the table.

“Our first priority, our principle, the one we will use for our competitions and encourage everyone to follow is that health comes first, I cannot stress this enough. No match, no competition, no league is worth risking a single human life. It would be more than irresponsible to force competitions to resume if things are not 100% safe, If we have to wait a little longer we must do so. It’s better to wait a little bit longer than to take any risks.”

Infantino said in a video message. if the league is declared null and void as part of efforts to push back COVID-19. Liverpool’s hoodoo may continue for another decade as they may not have the depth, arsenal, and zeal to reproduce the same performance when football resumes. This would be worsened by the exodus of some of the prolific players in the team to teams lurking around to harvest the talents of Mane, Salah and Arnold. Whichever way, they deserve all the accolades.