Ian Rush believes Manchester City’s desire to win the Champions League could hand his former club, Liverpool, an golden opportunity to win the English league title for the first time since 1990.
Rush, 57, Liverpool’s all-time record goal-scorer and a member of the last Liverpool team to win the league, hopes that City will switch their attention to the Champions League once the knock-out stages get under way in February.
‘They want the Champions League, so hopefully they focus on that a little more,’ he said.
City can return to the top of the table on Sunday with victory over Southampton at the Etihad. But Rush believes it is crucial the likes of Liverpool keep the pressure on City until the latter stages of Europe’s elite tournament get under way.
‘Last season, City weren’t put under any real pressure in the Premier League. This season, Liverpool and the others at the top of the table will want to keep up with them. They have got a chance. It is important to keep City under pressure and see how they react.
‘Liverpool are capable of a top two finish this season, that is realistic.’
City manager Pep Guardiola recently played down their chances of winning the Champions League for the first time. They return to European action on Wednesday at home to Shaktar Donesk. City currently top Group F, with six points from three games.
City supporters have an unusual lack of affinity with the competition, booing the Uefa anthem and leaving swathes of empty seats for home games.
City fans believe Uefa and Financial Fair Play have worked against the club, stopping it benefiting from the investment of their rich owners. City fell foul of FFP rules in 2014 and were hit with a £49million fine, as well as restrictions on their transfer spending and squad size.
Ian Rush was speaking as Liverpool ambassador at the announcement of Lavazza as the club’s official coffee partner.
Yumnsu
0
If Liverpool want to win premier league. They need to play not gentlemen football like man city who has not gentlemen player like Sterling. Liverpool need to buy back Suarez.
Anooor
1
Klopp must stop this defensive 4-3-3 strategy and must never get afraid of the big teams . we must play all the comming games with the excellent and powerfull 4-2-3-1 , all the team and players were well fitted with this strategy we must score much as possible goal . with this one our midfielding line press better and create more real opportunitys to the front line where Salah and Mané so Firmino and Shaqiri play well together . we musn't be afraid any more of any other opponent .
Jozdeims
0
Hope Liverpool will have rethink their strategy I still put more hope on Liverpool
fucabdmp
2
if klopp, need to win the premier league he had to get serious about #2 n #6 they are not playing good at all look what fabinho, did against Arsenal, he play very poor he and T.Alexander-Arnald bring joe Gomez at #2 salah, impact is very poor this season he has lost vision don't trust him this season fabinho not a football player to hope on seriously klopp highly make a change when is it necessary look what he did today, with arsenal salah no impact Alexander Arnald no impact fabinho no impact u kept them on klopp get the work done or u leave end of the season. klop not a .good coach for liverpool, he's not going to win anything for us i sense that for sure u sat there today u allowed the children to spoil our game
u r not a liverpool fan u just love chat an want people to notice u
fatacdept
0
if klopp, need to win the premier league he had to get serious about #2 n #6 they are not playing good at all look what fabinho, did against Arsenal, he play very poor he and T.Alexander-Arnald bring joe Gomez at #2 salah, impact is very poor this season he has lost vision don't trust him this season fabinho not a football player to hope on seriously klopp highly make a change when is it necessary look what he did today, with arsenal salah no impact Alexander Arnald no impact fabinho no impact u kept them on klopp get the work done or u leave end of the season. klop not a .good coach for liverpool, he's not going to win anything for us i sense that for sure u sat there today u allowed the children to spoil our game
"if u feel insulted as a liverpool fan or fans i'm sorry but the truth, is d truth me too i'm a fan of liverpool here in africa i feel hurt if klopp, does not do the right thing i 'll say it no matter how u feel. why he kept T.Alexander -Arnald at right back has no impact with d other guy fabinho we needed sturridge at 70 minute for salah bring wijnaldum #6 after fabino 60 minute shaqiri #7 matip at 70 minute for Gomez at right back." u allowed arsenal control the entire game, u don't want me, say it? u 're not the only liverpool fan.
Elsa98
1
Liverpool have started much better than the years before.😊 I just hope they can continue the run and klopp continues to produce the team spirit that he has done for the rest of the season.😉 They have to try to stay very close on the table with the top level teams and put a pressure on them.😎
goetzemario
0
if klopp, need to win the premier league he had to get serious about #2 n #6 they are not playing good at all look what fabinho, did against Arsenal, he play very poor he and T.Alexander-Arnald bring joe Gomez at #2 salah, impact is very poor this season he has lost vision don't trust him this season fabinho not a football player to hope on seriously klopp highly make a change when is it necessary look what he did today, with arsenal salah no impact Alexander Arnald no impact fabinho no impact u kept them on klopp get the work done or u leave end of the season. klop not a .good coach for liverpool, he's not going to win anything for us i sense that for sure u sat there today u allowed the children to spoil our game
u r from shutter island, ryt???
misakl
3
Even liverpool are lucky to not convert our penalty miss by Mahrez, if u want to know a team who will win this yr leaque, u must to see hw man City was playing,Liverpool, Arsenal, Toteham, they got 7 points from them, but liverpool, Man.City, Arsenal, Toteham,Chealsea, they got 6 points,Liverpool play with top 6 teams see the points they got is 6, After Man.city play today next week he will play against one of top 6 club which is Man . United n see hw the results will be now he played 3 out out 5 top teams in In England n got 7 points n liverpool had play against top six club in the leaque and got 6 points can't u see without their key man Kelvin de brune who help them to win last yr premier League with record but see them, Pep.guadiola is a best coach in the world of course no doubt
MAAI7
1
tomcdikn
0
I love man city the team of my heart
son_of_cj
1
yes Liverpool must keep pressure,the more they draw the more City pull's away top flight on the table very inspiring....
Kaf123
0
Liverpool will be lucky to finish among top 4
says nobody
Kaf123
0
if klopp, need to win the premier league he had to get serious about #2 n #6 they are not playing good at all look what fabinho, did against Arsenal, he play very poor he and T.Alexander-Arnald bring joe Gomez at #2 salah, impact is very poor this season he has lost vision don't trust him this season fabinho not a football player to hope on seriously klopp highly make a change when is it necessary look what he did today, with arsenal salah no impact Alexander Arnald no impact fabinho no impact u kept them on klopp get the work done or u leave end of the season. klop not a .good coach for liverpool, he's not going to win anything for us i sense that for sure u sat there today u allowed the children to spoil our game
just shut up
Africa8634557
0
sure
Zancdkmuyz
3
Rush is misguided, city can't surrender premier league to focus on champions league
lukcsyz
6
Liverpool will be lucky to finish among top 4
hetbdklns
0
If Liverpool can press really hard then it is possible EPL has been won on final macthdays before, it can happen again
the intensity of the 17/18 front three is not what is present in 18/19. Salah is a little off and Mane holds the ball too long.
hetbdklns
1
if klopp, need to win the premier league he had to get serious about #2 n #6 they are not playing good at all look what fabinho, did against Arsenal, he play very poor he and T.Alexander-Arnald bring joe Gomez at #2 salah, impact is very poor this season he has lost vision don't trust him this season fabinho not a football player to hope on seriously klopp highly make a change when is it necessary look what he did today, with arsenal salah no impact Alexander Arnald no impact fabinho no impact u kept them on klopp get the work done or u leave end of the season. klop not a .good coach for liverpool, he's not going to win anything for us i sense that for sure u sat there today u allowed the children to spoil our game
why don't yoh shut up
fatacdept
0
if klopp, need to win the premier league he had to get serious about #2 n #6 they are not playing good at all look what fabinho, did against Arsenal, he play very poor he and T.Alexander-Arnald bring joe Gomez at #2 salah, impact is very poor this season he has lost vision don't trust him this season fabinho not a football player to hope on seriously klopp highly make a change when is it necessary look what he did today, with arsenal salah no impact Alexander Arnald no impact fabinho no impact u kept them on klopp get the work done or u leave end of the season. klop not a .good coach for liverpool, he's not going to win anything for us i sense that for sure u sat there today u allowed the children to spoil our game
Faysalmuhameed9064
3
12UnitedGuy
2
If Liverpool can press really hard then it is possible EPL has been won on final macthdays before, it can happen again