Many fans believe that if Liverpool get knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 then it will help Jurgen Klopp’s men focus in the league.
Right now the Reds are tied on points with league leaders Manchester City but the Anfield outfit have played one game less than the Citizens.
But Klopp’s men could very well fall behind in the title race if they fail to pick up a win vs Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend.
Some fans believe if they do not have to focus on the Champions League then the players will be even more rested which in turn will help Liverpool’s domestic results.
And here’s what Gary Lineker thinks about it.
“The idea that Liverpool’s hopes of winning the Premier League title race will be helped if they are not distracted by Champions League matches is nonsense,” the football pundit told Goal.
“I’m a big believer that confidence is a huge factor in any sport and the best way for a footballer to feel confident is by winning big games.
“So defeat against Bayern Munich would not help Liverpool at all and, in fact, I think it would have the opposite effect. It would be another big setback after a couple of minor slip-ups in the last month, it would add more doubts and that’s what you don’t want.
“If they go out and bash Bayern Munich in the manner they did to other teams in the Champions League last season, confidence starts to come back and what has essentially been a small blip for Liverpool with two Premier League draws, it will restore confidence and reinvigorate them.
“Everyone gets a bit carried away at this stage of a season when one of the top teams loses some momentum, but it’s very rare that you will steamroller through a season and win everything in sight without a slip-up or two along the way.
“They have had a few injuries that have undermined them to an extent and this is a little test for them, but imagine they go out and blow Bayern Munich away in the first leg of the Champions League tie at Anfield, in a manner they did with Roma last season.
“A win like that would reignite Liverpool and that’s why I think it’s crazy to suggest they should focus on the Premier League and would be better off out of the Champions League.”
