The Weird Stat That Suggests Liverpool Won't Win The Premier League

If Liverpool manage to win the Premier League then they will have to win against history. Not just because it's 29 years since their last title but also because of a weird quirk of the Premier League's winners this century.

Liverpool's draw against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon put the title race in their hands. The draw put them top and with themselves and Manchester City having played the same amount of games the Reds know if both teams won all their remaining games they'd win the league.

It'll never be that simple but it's always nice when it's that simple in theory and the Reds will be hoping to end 29 years of hurt.

Behind them they know that City will be waiting to pounce on any mistake because the draw against United means Jurgen Klopp's side can barely afford to even draw again, never mind lose, with Pep Guardiola's men breathing down their necks.

Liverpool have only managed to finish second on three occasions since the Premier League started so they really would need to rewrite history to lift the trophy.

But it's not just their own history they'd have to rewrite. As per the Daily Mail, every team that has lifted the title this century has had a Frenchman in the team, and Liverpool are without one.

Henry was a two time champion with Arsenal. Image: PA Images

In 1999/2000 Mikael Silvestre won the title with Manchester United, following up that success in 2000/01, 2002/03 and 2006/07.

To play to stereotypes a whole host of Arsenal players won the league in the 2000/01 season with Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Gilles Grimandi, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord all in Arsene Wenger's team. All but Grimandi would repeat the feat in the Invincible season, joined by Jermaine Aliadiere, Pascal Cygan and Gael Clichy.

Clichy would go on to win the title with Manchester City in 2011/12 and 2013/14 along with Samir Nasri.

United's team in 2001/02 also included Fabian Barthez with the keeper and Silvestre joined by Laurent Blanc in 2002/03.

William Gallas and Claude Makelele were integral in Chelsea's back to back titles with Jose Mourinho in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

Louis Saha and Patrice Evra helped United regain the league in 2006/07 with the pair doubling down a season later and the full back helping Sir Alex Ferguson win the title three times in a row in 2008/09.

Nicolas Anelka, who won the title with Arsenal before this century, and Florent Malouda were members of Chelsea's 2009/10 title winners.

Evra was back at it in 2010/11 and again for Fergie's last title in 2012/13. Loic Remy and Kurt Zouma lifted the trophy in the 2014/15 season and the defender was part of Antonio Conte's squad in 2016/17 too.

In the second win for Zouma he was joined by N'Golo Kante, the midfielder was of course also part of Leicester City's incredible title win in 2015/16.

Kante with the title in his hands for the second year in a row. Image: PA Images

Finally last season Aymeric Laporte and Benjamin Mendy won the league for City and even Equilam Mangala left his game with Everton, where he was on loan, in order to get to the Etihad to get his winners medal.

So the last time the Premier League champions didn't have a frenchman in their squad was Manchester United's treble winners.

Do Liverpool have the je ne sais quoi required to win the league without someone from France?

Topics: Manchester City, Liverpool, Football News, Pep Guardiola, French football, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp, Aymeric Laporte, Benjamin Mendy

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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