Joe Cole claims Manchester City will have been ‘given a lift’ by Virgil van Dijk’s season-ending ACL injury as Joleon Lescott insists teams will now believe they can beat Liverpool without their talismanic centre-back
- Joe Cole says Manchester City will be boosted by Virgil van Dijk’s injury
- Liverpool defender van Dijk is set to be sidelined for the rest of the campaign
- Cole believes City will now have confidence that they can win the title
Joe Cole believes that Manchester City have been ‘given a lift’ by the news that Virgil van Dijk is set for a lengthy spell out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Liverpool defender Van Dijk is expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering the injury against Everton last weekend.
Although Liverpool won the Premier League title at a canter last season, Cole believes that City are now favourites to win the league this campaign.
Joe Cole believes Manchester City will be boosted by Virgil van Dijk’s serious injury
Cole feels that Pep Guardiola’s side will now have a better chance of winning the league title
Van Dijk is expected to miss the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury
Speaking on BT Sport, Cole said: ‘When you play against teams that normally give you a tonking it does normally resonate against you.
‘From Man City’s perspective I know it’s off the wall but seeing Liverpool lose Van Dijk, it has given them a lift. Pep will say ‘listen get your act together, let’s get back to what we was a year ago’ and they’ve been installed as favourites for the title.’
Former City defender Joleon Lescott concurs that City will feel like they can win the title given that Liverpool will be deprived of the services of van Dijk.
Joleon Lescott agrees that City will have more chance of success in the absence of van Dijk
Lescott told BT Sport : ‘I think it gives everyone a lift Joe. Because as much as we don’t want to see players get injured. Like without Van Dijk you believe you can beat Liverpool and that’s for every team.
‘So fact that Liverpool potentially drop more points, others will feel like they can win this title.’
Going into their game against West Ham, City found themselves three points adrift of Liverpool having played a game less.
Pep Guardiola’s side have received some criticism of late, especially after losing to Leicester and drawing with Leeds, but they still have a very strong squad.
City won the Premier League title in 2018 and 2019, but finished 18 points behind Liverpool last season.