Your Liverpool morning digest for Monday, September 20.
Why Liverpool being knocked off top spot by Chelsea would change with Premier League title on the line
Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday put them ahead of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table in the most arbitrary way.
The two sides are level on points, goal scored, and goals against, with even the pair’s meeting at Anfield in August ending all square.
Unable to split the difference between Liverpool and the reigning European champions, Thomas Tuchel’s side currently sit in top spot by virtue of alphabetical order.
However, that wouldn’t be enough to declare Chelsea champions if the standings were similarly deadlocked on the final day of the season - with the Premier League having an interesting rule to decide the league title, in that scenario.
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Virgil van Dijk overlooked as Liverpool handed incredible new boost
Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace turned out to be a landmark game for Virgil van Dijk as he made his 100th league appearance in a Reds shirt - although his manager admitted he was unaware of his achievement.
The Dutch defender has had a transformative effect on Jurgen Klopp’s side, with his absence keenly felt as Liverpool battled to 3rd spot last season.
Despite being rested for the midweek Champions League tie against AC Milan, as the 30-year-old manages his return to fitness, Van Dijk was entrusted to lead a defence that included debutant Ibrahima Konate and emergency right-back James Milner.
His influence as part of the backline is demonstrated by the numbers behind his century for the Reds, having only lost eight league games since joining the club in January 2018.
Read the full story here.
