Liverpool must cling on to their two-point lead by the time they play Manchester City, Ian Ladyman has argued - or risk being crestfallen once again come the season's close.
Jurgen Klopp's men face Brentford, Luton, and Nottingham Forest in their league before their Anfield assignment against City on March 10.
They hold a slender two-point advantage over City and Arsenal but Pep Guardiola's side are the ones everybody fears.
The Treble-winners have hit their mid-season stride again, winning 11 games on the bounce dating back to the Club World Cup.