{"id":2305,"date":"2024-04-11T18:03:20","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T18:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=2305"},"modified":"2024-04-11T18:03:20","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T18:03:20","slug":"paul-merson-names-the-liverpool-star-who-will-be-invaluable-in-the-title-race-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=2305","title":{"rendered":"Paul Merson names the Liverpool star who will be ‘invaluable’ in the title race | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Liverpool\n<\/div>

Diogo Jota has scored 14 goals so far this season (Photo: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Diogo Jota\u2019s return from injury will be \u2018invaluable\u2019 for Liverpool as they fight Arsenal and Manchester City for the Premier League title.<\/p>\n

That is according to Paul Merson who has made his predictions for this weekend\u2019s games with the title race on a knife edge.<\/p>\n

With just seven games to go, one-point separates the three title contenders: Arsenal are top, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, with City a point behind.<\/p>\n

The Reds have managed to keep up their title charge, as well as win the Carabao Cup and reach the Europa League quarter-finals, despite suffering a number of key injury blows.<\/p>\n

This includes goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and forward Jota who was stretchered off with a knee injury during the 4-1 win at Brentford in February.<\/p>\n

Jurgen Klopp confirmed earlier in the week that the Portugal international was back in training and could feature in the Europa League clash against Atalanta on Thursday night, before the Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Sunday.<\/p>\n

And Merson believes it is a timely return, telling Sportskeeda: \u2018Caiohmin Kelleher has done amazingly well this season, but Alisson Becker\u2019s injury return is a huge boost for Jurgen Klopp ahead of his last few games as Liverpool boss.<\/p>\n

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\"Liverpool\n<\/div>

Jota has been sidelined since February with a knee injury (Photo: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Trent Alexander-Arnold is also back so Conor Bradley might need to make way for him in the coming games, but one player whose return will be invaluable to the German manager is Diogo Jota.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think he\u2019s Liverpool\u2019s best finisher ahead of Mohamed Salah and if he had played, Klopp and co. would have emerged victorious against Manchester United.\u2019<\/p>\n

Jota has scored 14 goals in 28 appearances so far this season, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher previously describing the 27-year-old as the club\u2019s \u2018best finisher\u2019 of the past few decades.<\/p>\n

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\"Liverpool\n<\/div>

Jurgen Klopp\u2019s Liverpool are second in the Premier League only on goal difference (Photo: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As for Sunday\u2019s game at Anfield, Liverpool will be expected to beat an out of sorts Palace side, though the Eagles did nearly cause an upset when the two sides met in December and again when they played City last week.<\/p>\n

\u2018Palace will cause Liverpool a handful of problems and Jean-Philippe Mateta is a handful up front, but I expect the Reds to win at Anfield and move to the summit, at least until Arsenal play,\u2019 Gunners legend Merson added.<\/p>\n