Hull City manager Phil Brown feels that Liverpool now have every chance of beating Manchester United in the race to claim the Premier League title, after the Merseysiders recent run of excellent results blew the race wide open.
"Two weeks ago, most of us were ready to present the Premier League title to Manchester United," Brown wrote in his column in The Hull Daily Mail.
"With rivals faltering and Sir Alex Ferguson's men looking invincible, it looked like being a procession through the season's final months. But after a huge shift in momentum to blow the race wide open, Liverpool are firmly back in the hunt.
"Rafael Benitez's side, brilliantly led by Steven Gerrard, have been in superb form since hammering Manchester United at Old Trafford. A 4-1 win over the leaders was followed up by a thumping 5-0 victory over Aston Villa next weekend and, all of a sudden, the title race is back on.
"With a game in hand and a point to the good, the title is still Manchester United's to lose but we look set for a thrilling finale to the season."
Interestingly, the City boss, mired in so much controversy in the last few weeks and bullish in his attitude to his job all season, went on to highlight just how much he feels the pressure increases at this time of the season, even for the greatest managers and players.
"Recent weeks have shown no-one is immune to the growing sense of pressure - not even the quintuple-chasing Manchester United.
"Nemanja Vidic, who is one of the front-runners to be crowned the PFA Player of the Year, had a nightmare against Liverpool when gifting Fernando Torres a goal and then being sent off."
Brown concluded by saying that that pressure was also affecting match officials, the consequences of which his side had been forced to endure in recent weeks.
"We're not just seeing top players being affected by the pressure. Even Howard Webb, a referee I rate very highly, had a very poor game in our clash with Newcastle a fortnight ago.
"I put that down to the old 'squeaky bum-time' affecting us all as the weeks tick down."
"Two weeks ago, most of us were ready to present the Premier League title to Manchester United," Brown wrote in his column in The Hull Daily Mail.
"With rivals faltering and Sir Alex Ferguson's men looking invincible, it looked like being a procession through the season's final months. But after a huge shift in momentum to blow the race wide open, Liverpool are firmly back in the hunt.
"Rafael Benitez's side, brilliantly led by Steven Gerrard, have been in superb form since hammering Manchester United at Old Trafford. A 4-1 win over the leaders was followed up by a thumping 5-0 victory over Aston Villa next weekend and, all of a sudden, the title race is back on.
"With a game in hand and a point to the good, the title is still Manchester United's to lose but we look set for a thrilling finale to the season."
Interestingly, the City boss, mired in so much controversy in the last few weeks and bullish in his attitude to his job all season, went on to highlight just how much he feels the pressure increases at this time of the season, even for the greatest managers and players.
"Recent weeks have shown no-one is immune to the growing sense of pressure - not even the quintuple-chasing Manchester United.
"Nemanja Vidic, who is one of the front-runners to be crowned the PFA Player of the Year, had a nightmare against Liverpool when gifting Fernando Torres a goal and then being sent off."
Brown concluded by saying that that pressure was also affecting match officials, the consequences of which his side had been forced to endure in recent weeks.
"We're not just seeing top players being affected by the pressure. Even Howard Webb, a referee I rate very highly, had a very poor game in our clash with Newcastle a fortnight ago.
"I put that down to the old 'squeaky bum-time' affecting us all as the weeks tick down."
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