Michael Owen outlines key Man City advantage over Liverpool in treble hunt

Michael Owen believes Manchester City hold a distinct advantage over Liverpool in their quest for a historic treble this season.

City still hold a sizeable advantage over their rivals in the Premier League, and are the favourites to land both the Champions League and FA Cup to go alongside another title.

Liverpool though are looking likely to go toe to toe with the Blues on all three fronts, with Jurgen Klopp’s side also in superb form having strengthened with the signing of Luis Diaz in January.

Both sides look well on course to advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with City all-but secured of their place after beating Sporting Lisbon 5-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie, while Liverpool claimed an impressive 2-0 win over Inter Milan at the San Siro.

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And while it’s hard to see anyone stopping Pep Guardiola’s side in the form they’re currently in, the Reds do look best suited to derail their hopes of clinching a historic treble this season.

Owen though feels City have a telling advantage over their rivals which could prove to be the deciding factor over the rest of the season.

“The only thing that I would say in comparison to City is that Liverpool rely on two or three players more so than City,” Owen told BT Sport.

“Don’t get me wrong, City have De Bruyne – City have so many great individual players – but if one of them is out they still function the same.

“If you take van Dijk out of Liverpool, if you take the goalkeeper, Fabinho, Salah – there’s four players there that you think that is a drop off.

“I think they’re pretty equal but City have that steadiness in depth.”

That advantage could well come into effect soon, with Liverpool forced into a change at the San Siro on Wednesday after Diogo Jota was forced off with an ankle injury.

Although his replacement Roberto Firmino went on to grab the all-important opener, Jota would be a big miss for the Reds, having been in superb form in front of goal.

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