Liverpool goal scoring great John Aldridge believes his former club need to send out a message to Manchester City when they take on Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds will return to the top of the Premier League table if they beat Spurs, with Aldridge suggesting a win against the side currently sitting in third place in the Premier League will remind champions City that their nearest rivals are ready to fight for the title.

"Liverpool need to send out a statement to Manchester City, after their win at Fulham yesterday confirmed their status as favourites to lift the Premier League title," Aldridge wrote in his Sunday World column.

"City are about to enter a month that includes at FA Cup semi-final, three games against Tottenham and an away match against Manchester United and it would be a miracle if they win all of those games.

With this in mind, Liverpool need to make sure they put enough pressure on them in the Premier League and hope it is enough for them to serve up a mistake or two.

"This is why I don’t think a draw in today’s game against Tottenham would end Liverpool’s title hopes, with the fixture list City are about to undertake as tough as it gets.

"The scenario Liverpool are in now reminds me of the 2013/14 title race, when they were competing with City for the title headed into the final few weeks of the season.

"Steven Gerrard’s slip in the home game against Chelsea proved to be decisive as it paved the way for a home defeat and then the Crystal Palace a few days later, as the title challenge came to a painful end.

"If Brendan Rodgers’ team had drawn the Chelsea game, I reckon they would have won at Selhurst Park and could still have ended up as champions, so I don’t agree with the suggestion that we are at the stage where every game is ‘must win’ for Liverpool.

There is still a lot of time for unexpected twists in this title plot, with Liverpool and City still chasing 21 points in the final six weeks of the campaign.

"So what of this afternoon’s game at Anfield? I am predicting a Liverpool win this afternoon, but Tottenham will push them all the way and will probably score a goal or two in what could be a Premier League classic."

Online Editors