JURGEN KLOPP’S Liverpool don’t need a reminder of how precarious a place at the top of the Premier League table can be.

In the 2018/19 season, they led the league for 13 weeks before draws at Manchester United and Everton in February and March gave Manchester City the chance to overtake them with nine games left to play.

City duly obliged, and though Liverpool won all their remaining games and accrued 97 points, it wasn’t enough.

As the 2023/24 season draws to a close, Liverpool sit at the top of the table once again in a title race with City and a new addition to the mix, Arsenal.

And once again Liverpool will need wins at Manchester United and Everton if they are to maintain this position.

With this in mind, and the unpredictability of historic local rivalries, which Everton and Man United both pose to Liverpool, the suggestion Liverpool have the easiest run-in of the three title contenders might be wide of the mark.

“I saw someone said we had the best fixture list and schedule,” recalled Klopp ahead of Sunday’s game against United.

“I looked and I really don’t know how you can have that idea. It’s a tough one against good opponents, but we are ready and we want to be in that fight.”

That Liverpool almost lost the top spot in the table in their game at home to bottom team Sheffield United on Thursday night shows how perilous the status of league leader is this season.

Liverpool went ahead in the game when Darwin Nunez closed down goalkeeper Ivo Grbic whose clearance struck the Uruguayan and tricked into the goal.

Only a brilliant save from Caoimhin Kelleher had stopped Liverpool from going behind in the opening minute, and Sheffield United drew level unexpectedly through an own goal from Conor Bradley.

At that point in the game, Arsenal were top of the table on goal difference, and a position Liverpool had held for 11 of the last 12 matchdays was in the balance in a game at home to the worst team in the league.

The cliche that there are no easy games in the Premier League might not always be true, but there are certainly no easy games in a title race.

These crucial moments in a season when there is still a title at stake can lead to some of the most memorable moments on the pitch.

On Thursday night, Liverpool and their Anfield stadium witnessed one such moment from the boot of their Argentine World Cup winner, Alexis Mac Allister.

When watching a game from the side of the pitch, it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether a shot is truly in the top corner or not. Sometimes suspect goalkeeping can be deceptive and make goals look better than they are.

This wasn’t the case for Mac Allister’s game-winner against Sheffield United.

From side on you wondered how it didn’t go wide or over. Mac Allister cut across the ball with his right foot to fade the shot away from Grbic to where the side of the net attaches to the top. It found the top corner of both the goal and the net.

After the game, Klopp was asked for his comments on Mac Allister’s performance. “I would prefer you all to say what you see,” Klopp said, inadvertently channelling Roy Walker.

“He’s a super important player for us. A wonderful player, wonderful boy, and I’m really happy for Liverpool that we got him.”

It is far from certain that Liverpool will win the Premier League this season. Arsenal and City generally look more controlled than Klopp’s team, and Arsenal’s team defence especially has been sound.

But even if control is usually the best way to not lose, it isn’t always the best way to win out.

On paper, each of the contenders have good defensive records, though the goals Liverpool concede always seem to put them in an intense recovery mode within games.

Luckily for them they have been good at recovering, and have won from losing positions seven times this season.

Liverpool appear to force the issue while Arsenal and City look to meticulously solve the problem of each game, but the moves made by Klopp and his coaching staff within games are well-thought-out — a combination of positioning and pressing.

Liverpool now travel to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. One of their biggest rivals and, in their FA Cup quarterfinal meeting last month, the only team to have beaten them in the last 12 games in all competitions.

Klopp and his players will need all their thought and exuberance if they are to win this latest lap in the title race and maintain the position at the top of the Premier League table, which will be perilous for whatever team holds it.