Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs believes Liverpool may be the frontrunners in this season's Premier League title race, saying Jurgen Klopp could turn out to be the man who ends the club's 27-year wait for a league triumph.
Liverpool enter this weekend's round of fixtures in third place, tied on 20 points with Manchester City, and have looked thoroughly impressive this season and Giggs, who left his role as United's assistant manager along with Louis van Gaal in the summer, believes the Premier League trophy may finally be heading to Anfield for the first time come May.
Writing in a fascinating guest column in theDaily Telegraph, Giggs highlighted no European football as being a great benefit in the long run for Klopp's side.
Ryan Giggs writes exclusively for @TelegraphSport on Liverpool's title chances https://t.co/DN9TogZxnE
"During the Europa League final against Sevilla, it occurred to me that if Liverpool had this season without the draining effect of European football, and had recruited well in the summer, then they would have a real chance of challenging for the Premier League.
"With a year at the club, Klopp would be better suited to the demands of the English game, his players would be well adapted to his way of playing and they would have no mid-week distraction from the task at the weekend."
He goes on to claim that Liverpool have actually benefited from the absence ofSteven Gerrard:
"Watching Liverpool it is notable that since Steven Gerrard left there is no big star in the side. Philippe Coutinho is a talent and Jordan Henderson has done well to step into the captaincy. He looks like a good lad and a dedicated professional.
"Gerrard's departure has forced others to fill the gap and sometimes that can be a good thing for a club to move away from a focus on one individual.
"What seems different to United is that looking from the outside, Gerrard was always the dominant figure at the club regardless of who the manager might have been. Now that he has left it feels like Klopp is that man.�
However, while he thinks they are certainly well-equipped for a genuine tilt at the title, Giggs pointed to both ends of the pitch as potential stumbling blocks for the Merseyside club.
"What they lack is a goalscorer who might get them 20 goals in a season and while Sadio Mane or Daniel Sturridge might prove me wrong, you do need one of those in a title-winning team," he added.
"At the other end I do not think they have a goalkeeper who is among the top players in that position in the league, although that could change over time."