Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski believes that Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool can take advantage of their lack of European football and challenge for the Premier League title this season.
Speaking to "?Goal, the Polish star admitted that he sees Pep Guardiola's Manchester City going close to winning the title despite their defeat at Tottenham on Sunday, but Liverpool will be there or thereabouts because of their significantly lower number of fixtures - as well as because of their form and style of play.
Lewandowski: "Pep and Manchester City will not make it easy for anybody to win the title, but Liverpool have a real chance." #lfc
Lewandowski, who used to play under Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, said: "Under Klopp I think they will be fighting for the title this season. Pep and Manchester City will not make it easy for anybody to win the title, but Liverpool have a real chance.
"Without European football it can really help them with being fresh for games and with injuries and, even though Klopp is always smiling, he is ruthless enough to take advantage of that."?
Lewandowski also believes that the atmosphere among the squad at Liverpool has been crucial to their recent form, adding: "I have watched some Liverpool games since the arrival of Klopp, and you can see that the players are enjoying playing for him.
"As a player you know that he totally has your back, he is like a father figure and, because you have that trust in him as a player, it makes you totally open to his methods and his ideas which, in the long term, you always see are for the benefit of your game and for the team."?
Liverpool beat Swansea 2-1 on Saturday, to pull to within two points of the top of the table.
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