• Premier League

Wenger doesn't rate Liverpool's chances

Arsene Wenger does not rate Liverpool's chances of ending their long wait to win the Premier League title any higher than a mathematical possibility.

The Arsenal manager gave a mealy-mouthed assessment of the prospects of Brendan Rodgers' league leaders on Friday despite their momentum and the widespread backing for them to succeed, 24 years after they were last crowned champions.

"Mathematically it is possible," Wenger said of Liverpool's chances. "Why do I say that? I don't know more than you. Nobody knows, that is why it is interesting. It is a possibility yes that they can win the Premier League.

"City have two games in hand and the two games are at home, where they strong in the Premier League. So they have a huge advantage.

"There are still a lot of twists and turns in the Premier League until the end of the season and there is no clear favourite.

"Liverpool has an advantage as they don't play any competition other than the Premier League for a long, long time so they have only one target and they can of course be stable in their preparation. That is a little advantage, but it is very tight."

Wenger also refused to rule Arsenal out of the title race, claiming they have "turned the corner" after setbacks against Chelsea and Swansea.

Arsenal lost 6-0 to Chelsea before conceding a late goal that cost them two points in a 2-2 home draw against Swansea City, but recovered with a creditable 1-1 at home to Manchester City to reclaim initiative in the race for fourth.

"I believe we were a bit flat after the Swansea and Chelsea games, and what was vital for us was not to lose against City and if possible to win," Wenger said.

"But at least to come out with a strong performance. We feel we have done that so I think we have turned the corner and we have an opportunity to show that against Everton.

"First of all we have not given up on that, as long as there is a mathematical chance we want to fight. It is disappointing to have dropped off the top of course and we have to give absolutely everything to come back into it.

"For us [Everton] is an opportunity to go up forward and as well an opportunity to make a distance with Everton of course. It's both. As I told you after the last game against Man City, we look in front of us and behind us as well. That's what the game is about on Sunday."

Wenger pointed to defeats like Chelsea's to Crystal Palace last weekend - and the fact Liverpool and City must both travel to Selhurst Park - as the sort of circumstances that could bring Arsenal back into it.

"I think it shows just that Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal are in danger everywhere, especially against teams who fight not to go down. these teams are difficult to beat. The fixtures can have a part to play.

"The target is to finish as high as possible. Where that will be at the moment I must say, behind us will depend only on our results. In front of us will depend on our results and the results on the other teams so that's impossible to predict.

"I still think yes, because you don't want to give up as long as you have a mathematical chance. We are certainly still out, out, out, outsiders, I agree with you on that that we have a very small percentage.

"If you don't fight for stand you have results like Crystal Palace v Chelsea and you have given up because we didn't believe it, you would be absolutely 100 per cent guilt. We have a small percentage to do it, but this small percentage you have to give absolutely everything to make it possible.

"Everybody has the right to see our size as big or as small as he wants. For us, on our side, no matter how big the chance is we have absolutely to give everything to fight for it."

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