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The Premier League title race is heading towards the final straight – and this is when the nerves start to show.
When Liverpool edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 on Sunday, Anfield roared with relief as much as joy.
The Reds did not manage an attempt on goal in the second half, but did just enough to ensure they remain seven points clear at the top of the table.
“Everyone gets nervous,” accepted Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson after the Wolves win.
“The players get nervous, the crowd gets nervous – that’s only natural. But another game down. This result is big.”
With 13 games remaining, how likely are Liverpool to be caught? And who has the toughest run-in?
Graphic showing the top of the Premier League table
Image caption,
How the top six in the Premier League looks after 25 games
Liverpool looking leggy or finding different ways to win?
Liverpool’s performance against Wolves on Sunday was hardly one to set the pulses racing.
They were good value for their two-goal lead at half time – thanks to a Luis Diaz finish and a Mohamed Salah penalty – but after the break it was struggling Wolves who were the better side.
This was the first time on record (since 2003-04) that Liverpool failed to attempt a shot in the second half of a Premier League game at Anfield, according to Opta.
In fact, it was the first time in this period that the Reds went an entire half of football without attempting a shot in a home league match.
But Liverpool boss Arne Slot was happy to see his side show they are able to win in different ways.
“We had to show a different mentality, which we did and got it over the line,” he told BBC Match of the Day.
“In a season like this we have played so many great games, but in a season if you want to win something you have to win the difficult ones as well when you are not playing your best.
“If you want to achieve something it is not only about bringing the ball out from the back or Mo scoring goals, it is also about defending.”
Opta’s supercomputer predicts Liverpool to win the Premier League pretty comfortably and has them to finish on 87 points, seven clear of Arsenal.
The statisticians give them an 87.65% chance of winning the title, with the Gunners on 12.35%. Every other team has been given 0% chance of finishing first.
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