Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has claimed Manchester City have been helped ‘enormously’ by a lack of injuries and ‘corona attacks’ in December.
The Reds currently trail Manchester City in the title race by 11 points, with Pep Guardiola’s side pulling away over the last month.
They’ve won all of their last six games in the league, putting them at the top of the Premier League form table.
It’s a run of results that the rest of the league have not been able to maintain, particularly Liverpool, who have dropped points during the busy Christmas period.
Draws against Chelsea and Tottenham, and a defeat to Leicester City, mean they have 11 points from their last six games compared to Manchester City’s 18.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have not been aided in their efforts to keep up by a raft of injuries and positive covid cases, which have decimated their squad and seen games against Leeds and Arsenal postponed.
It has been a major problem, and something Liverpool defender Van Dijk insists has handed City an advantage.
“City have come through the December month particularly well,” De Telegraaf report him saying.
“Few injuries, few corona attacks, that helps enormously. A small example. At the same time as me, Fabinho and Thiago tested positive. Three boys in the axis of the team.
“A big club like Liverpool still has quality players, but the rhythm or the dynamics in the team that everyone is used to changes at such a moment.
“There are still so many games to play. You also need a bit of luck in this phase.”
