Could Liverpool slip-up to Middlesbrough on Sunday?

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to amend his side’s recent woes on home soil.

Liverpool host Middlesbrough at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, needing a win to ensure of their Champions League spot for next season.

Arsenal are one place and one point behind the Reds and are big favourites to win their respective game against Everton which could put pressure on a Liverpool side, who have been short of wins at home of late, to deliver.

And with Middlesbrough performing better of late and wanting to give their away fans a worthy showing in their final top-flight clash, could Liverpool slip-up?

Liverpool far from convincing

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side are currently fourth in the Premier League table with 73 points from 37 games this season, coming off the back of four wins and a draw from their last half a dozen outings. However, the Merseysiders have been struggling on home soil in recent weeks, failing to win their last three games at Anfield. Liverpool could miss out on the Champions League if they make it four this weekend.

(5/4/17) Liverpool 2-2 Bournemouth
(23/4/17) Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace
(7/5/17) Liverpool 0-0 Southampton

Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet at home in their last six games and face a Middlesbrough side who have shown more fight in recent weeks which could suggest they won’t lie down at Anfield on Sunday.

Middlesbrough shouldn’t be ruled out

Middlesbrough find themselves 19th in the Premier League table with 28 points from 37 games this season, having picked up four points from as many games ahead of the trip to Anfield. The north-East outfit haven’t performance well on the road in 2016/17, picking up just one win in 18 on their travels, but have avoided defeat in eight away games (44%) this season – more than any other side 12th and below. Middlesbrough have the joint-seventh best defensive record on the road too.

Middlesbrough’s last four games
(26/4/17) Middlesbrough 1-0 Sunderland
(30/4/17) Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester City
(8/5/17) Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough
(13/5/17) Middlesbrough 1-2 Southampton

Results and performances have picked up in recent weeks in time for Middlesbrough’s last Premier League outing, and a vocal away support could help rouse the players to perform against a giant like Liverpool in front of the Sky Sports cameras. It’s also worth noting Boro have been a bogey side to Liverpool in the past, having won one and drawn one of their last four head-to-heads in all competitions too. Middlesbrough are 4/1 to win or draw against Liverpool in Sunday’s Premier League clash. Nerves could certainly play a part.

Could the Reds slip-up this weekend?