Liverpool suffered a blow on Wednesday as Man City kept up the pace in the derby. The Reds can return to the top on Friday and our tipster cannot see it going any other way.
Recommended bets
1pt Sadio Mane to score a header at 17/2
For advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Liverpool v Huddersfield Town
- Anfield, 2000 BST kick-off on Sky Sports Main Event
Liverpool may have suffered a title setback in midweek, but they can only concentrate on their own fixtures and hope for the best before the end of the season.
Manchester City's midweek derby win at United means Pep Guardiola's side lead the way with three games to go.
The Citizens have Burnley (a), Leicester (h) and Brighton (a) to face in the final run-in and it is hard to see the Pep Guardiola's side, who have won 11 Premier League games in a row, slipping up now.
Liverpool, who also have a Champions League semi-final double header with Barcelona between now and the season's end, face Huddersfield (h), Newcastle (a) and Wolves (h).
A run of four draws in six from the end of January to early March saw Jurgen Klopp's side lose the advantage in the race for the crown, but they have still lost just once all season and won six league games in a row.
Should they win their remaining fixtures, they will be on 97 points and that total would have seen them win the title in any other Premier League season, so they have been incredible regardless of the final outcome.
Their opponents' season, meanwhile, is petering out as they head for the Sky Bet Championship.
Jan Sierwert's Huddersfield equalled the Premier League record for the earliest relegation when their fate was confirmed at the end of March.
They have won just once since the start of December and have rarely looked like winning, with goals the big issue having scored just 20 all campaign.
With the pressure off, fellow relegated side Fulham have won back-to-back games since their demotion was confirmed, but that reaction from the Terriers has looked unlikely.
Betting guide
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Huddersfield (Sky Bet odds: Price Boosted to 6/1)
Expect no shocks here. Liverpool suffered a blow in midweek when Man City avoided a slip-up in the derby, but they can keep the pressure on by seeing off down and out Huddersfield quite comfortably. The Terriers have failed to score in seven of their last eight away outings and they come up against the league's best defence so a clean sheet could well be on the cards. A win on Friday would see Liverpool go top again until at least Sunday afternoon and anything less would likely mean the end of the title race. They'll surely win well.
Best bet: Sadio Mane to score a header at 17/2
Liverpool are so well fancied that it can be difficult to find value from this clash and the odds here make backing Mane to score a header worth a small play. The Senegal forward has 18 Premier League goals to his name this term, three of them with his head. He may not be the tallest, but late runs from the far post make him a threat in all situations, especially when converting from close range, and he has had 18 headed efforts in total this term - more than any other Liverpool player. He averages nearly three shots per game in the competition and has had a great season for the Reds. Mane can get the better of Tommy Smith and Christopher Schindler on the right of Huddersfield's defence and hopefully add to his headed tally at a big price.
Stats: Huddersfield to have 9+ shots at 5/4
Another risky option at a nice price in one of the many sub-markets. This covers all efforts, regardless of how far wide they are or if they are blocked en route to goal. Huddersfield may not get on the score sheet but it is not a big ask for them to have nine efforts in the whole of the 90 minutes. In their last away outing at Tottenham they had seven shots, but their last five games, both home and away, have seen them register 13, 7, 10, 15 and 15 shots. They may offer little in the goals department, but they cannot be accused of not trying and the line looks low here.
RequestABet: Liverpool to score 3+ goals, Mane to score a header and 3+ corners taken in each half at 14/1
Opta stats
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 13 meetings with Huddersfield in all competitions (W10 D3), since a 0-1 loss in November 1959.
- Huddersfield haven’t scored in any of their last eight meetings with Liverpool in all competitions (D1 L7) since a 1-1 draw at Anfield in the second division in April 1962. Chris Balderstone netted for the Terriers that day.
- Liverpool have won four of their last five top-flight home games played on Fridays, with the exception being a 1-2 defeat against Leeds in April 2001.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in 14 Premier League games, winning each of the last six in a row. At home, they’re 38 league games without defeat, the second longest such run in Premier League history (Chelsea, 86).
- Liverpool have already accumulated 88 points this season, their most in a Premier League campaign. In top-flight history, only in 1987-88 (90) and 1978-79 (98, converted to 3 points/win) have they gained more in a season.
- Huddersfield are winless in their last 11 away league games (D1 L10), failing to score in eight of those. The Terriers have lost all five of their away league games vs the current top six this season by an aggregate score of 2-19.
- 10 of Liverpool’s last 13 Premier League goals have been scored in the second half of games. Their last six in the competition have been scored after half-time, ultimately earning the Reds six points.
- Mohamed Salah has scored in all three of his Premier League games for Liverpool on Fridays. No player has scored more for the club in the competition on Friday than Salah (3, level with Michael Owen).
- Huddersfield’s Karlan Grant has scored in three Premier League games for Huddersfield Town and ended on the losing side in all three – only one player has ever scored in more Premier League games for a single club and lost them all (Dean Whitehead for Sunderland, four games).
- Liverpool’s Sadio Mane has scored nine goals in his last eight Premier League home games, having netted just five in his first nine at Anfield this season.
Odds correct as of 1130 BST on 25/04/19
