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Joe Cole claims Virgil van Dijk’s ACL injury will have ‘given a boost’ to Manchester City as Joleon Lescott insists teams will now believe they can beat Liverpool without their central talisman
- Joe Cole says Manchester City will be boosted by Virgil van Dijk’s injury
- Liverpool defender van Dijk will be out of the game for the rest of the season
- Cole believes City will now have confidence that they can win the title
Joe Cole believes Manchester City has been “given a boost” by the news that Virgil van Dijk is ready for a long season with an ACL injury.
Liverpool defender Van Dijk is expected to miss the rest of the season after sustaining injury against Everton last weekend.
Although Liverpool won the Premier League title at a canter last season, Cole believes that City are now the favorites to win the league this season.
Joe Cole believes Manchester City will be boosted by Virgil van Dijk’s serious injury
Cole feels that Pep Guardiola’s team will now have a better chance of winning the league title
Van Dijk is expected to miss the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Speaking about BT Sport, Cole said: ‘When you play against teams that normally give you a tone, it usually resonates against you.
“ From City’s perspective, I know it’s out of place, but seeing Liverpool lose Van Dijk has given them a boost. Pep will say ‘listen, get going, let’s go back to what we were a year ago’ and they have been installed as favorites for the title ‘.
Former City defender Joleon Lescott agrees that City will feel they can win the title as Liverpool will be deprived of van Dijk’s services.
Joleon Lescott agrees that City will have a better chance of success in van Dijk’s absence.
Lescott told BT Sport: ‘I think everyone cheers up Joe. As much as we don’t want players to get injured. As without Van Dijk, you think you can beat Liverpool and that’s for all teams.
“So the fact that Liverpool potentially lose more points, others will feel like they can win this title.”
Entering their game against West Ham, City found themselves three points behind Liverpool after having played one game less.
Pep Guardiola’s team has 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.
