“87 Points Will be Enough!” – Dave Hendrick Explains How Liverpool Will Win the Premier League Title | OneFootball

Liverpool vs Arsenal: The Premier League Title Race Heats Up

Liverpool remain at the top of the Premier League table, eight points clear, and despite recent setbacks, Dave Hendrick of The Daily Red podcast on Anfield Index remains confident that Arne Slot’s side are still in control of their own destiny. With Arsenal chasing them down, Hendrick dissected Liverpool’s latest performances and addressed key concerns from supporters.

Liverpool’s Title Destiny Remains in Their Hands

Hendrick dismissed the “doom-mongering” among some fans, reiterating that Liverpool are still in pole position to lift the title. “Not only did we not lose last night, we actually extended our lead at the top of the table,” he emphasised. Despite recent dropped points, Hendrick believes Liverpool’s path to the title is clear: “If we win our seven home games, that means we need five points away from home… I’ve said all along, 87 points will be more than enough to win the league.”

This calculation puts pressure on Arsenal to be near perfect for the remainder of the season. “Anyone that thinks they’re going to win 12 of 13 just hasn’t been paying attention to them,” he argued, citing Arsenal’s inconsistency in attack.

Missed Chances and Defensive Issues: Where Liverpool Fell Short

Liverpool’s recent draw was frustrating, particularly given the opportunities to put the game to bed. Hendrick outlined several missed chances, particularly from Darwin Núñez, who squandered a one-on-one opportunity. “Darwin had two big chances—the one where Salah puts it on a plate for him and the one where he gets in and Martinez comes out… all he needs to do is flick that ball in field.” Instead, Núñez hesitated, leading to a missed opportunity.

Photo: IMAGO

The defensive side of the game also remains a talking point, with Hendrick pointing out key vulnerabilities: “Trent is not defending well and hasn’t for a while… Andy Robertson’s having a rocky season… we don’t have a defensive midfielder.” Despite these weaknesses, he argued that Liverpool’s defensive issues are personnel-related rather than systemic: “It’s not a system thing—it’s an individual thing.”

Arsenal’s Tough Run-In: Why the Gunners May Struggle

A major part of Hendrick’s analysis focused on Arsenal’s remaining fixtures and their difficulty in keeping up with Liverpool’s pace. “The highest they can get is 89 points, meaning they’d need to win 12 of their last 13,” he pointed out, casting doubt on their ability to maintain such a relentless run.

Arsenal’s lack of attacking options could also hinder their title bid. “Not having Saka, Havertz, Martinelli, and Jesus is going to cost them—it’s unsustainable,” Hendrick argued, questioning their ability to break down teams over the coming weeks.

With tricky fixtures against teams like Manchester United, Newcastle, and Brentford, Hendrick sees slip-ups coming. “They drew at home to Brighton, lost at Bournemouth, drew with Fulham, lost at Newcastle, drew with Everton… but we draw away to Villa and the sky is falling in for some people,” he pointed out, highlighting the hypocrisy in criticism of Liverpool’s results.

Confidence in Liverpool’s Ability to Get Over the Line

Despite the frustrations from the last match, Hendrick remains bullish about Liverpool’s chances. “We should have won the game,” he insisted. “If we take our chances, we’re winning it by two or three goals.” He also highlighted the manager’s strong approach: “Arne Slot coached to win last night. The criticism of him is just silly.”

Ultimately, Hendrick remains convinced that the Premier League title is still within Liverpool’s control. “We’re still top of the league—stop the meltdowns,” he said, dismissing the negativity from some quarters.

With Manchester City up next, the pressure is on, but as Hendrick boldly concluded, “We’re going to beat City at the weekend.”