Media trying to disrupt Liverpool title challenge?

It’s March and Liverpool are still top of the league. It’s a fact that has Manchester City very nervous, even if they won’t openly admit it.

In recent weeks, there have been a string of people, including current and former Man City players, publicly commenting about Liverpool’s title hopes. The consistency makes the whole thing smell more than a bit fishy.

Pablo Zabaleta spoke to the BBC this week, attempting to heap pressure on the Reds by claiming their fan base is choking and will cost their team the title. He stated:

"“It seems the fans are a little bit tense. That can make it difficult for the players to concentrate and play well.”"

Firstly, Pablo, have you not seen the last few games? Bournemouth was a turning point for the fans. They’ve been electric since that game, and it’s given the team a boost.

Zabaleta’s comments are simply the latest in a long line of misguided comments. The intent presumably to try and see if it can cause some disruption.

More from Rush The Kop

• Set to return, Virgil Van Dijk facing heavy criticism back home
• Liverpool making late comebacks all the rage once again
• Wolves tilt gives Klopp opportunity to tinker with lineup following international duty
• Players to watch in the matchup with Wolves
• Predicting Liverpool’s Next Five Premier League Fixtures

Polls have been conducted this season about who rival fans would want to win the league if not their own. The resounded answer was that the majority want anybody but Liverpool.

We can only presume that is an answer born out of fear. Fear that the Reds won’t just win this year, but will return to the old glory days and dominate the sport once again.

The throw away comment that is bandied around is that Liverpool fans will be “unbearable”. Well, frankly, isn’t that the point? Are we supposed to believe that fans should support their team all season, but then just shrug their shoulders at success? There isn’t a fan base in the world that wouldn’t wildly celebrate a league title.

However, reasoning aside, the fact remains that the media are acutely aware of the fact people would prefer Liverpool don’t win. The dream scenario potentially a repeat of the drama of 2013-14.

The result is that websites, newspapers, and TV programs are littered with the same comment. A repetitive narrative about how Liverpool COULD crumble under pressure, about how old demons will be their downfall.

Perhaps the most comical of people to lend an opinion was Gary Rowett. A player that could never cut it at Everton and has won nothing as a player or manager (Everton won an FA Cup while he was there, but he didn’t play in the competition and registered two appearances all season in all comps).

Yet Sky Sports have asked the former Stoke City manager, with no connection to either club or Premier League experience, to weigh in on Liverpool handling the pressure. That’s when you know the media have asked just about everybody at this point are running out of options.

The funny thing is, has anybody thought to ask Jurgen Klopp and his players how they are coping? Their 5-0 rout of Watford doesn’t quite seem to fit the narrative.

Internally, there doesn’t seem to be any sign that the players are starting to choke. They are allowed the odd draw here and there without it being a sign of some greater demise.

With 10 games to go, the Reds know they have their work cut out for them. Man City will likely make it a requirement for them to win at least nine of those remaining games.

It’s a very tough ask to win the league in an era with this Man City side. It seems bizarre that people do not want to see a competitive challenge and would prefer Pep Guardiola and his players stroll to victory each season.

Roll on Everton in the Merseyside derby this weekend. A victory at Goodison Park at such a pivotal point of the campaign could really quieten some people down.