Liverpool will trace painful title failure back to Everton if Man City make perfect finish

There is no consensus in the Liverpool dressing room on whether Wednesday evening’s Manchester derby will be worth watching.

Speaking after the weekend’s win at Cardiff, James Milner described the prospect as “a waste of energy”, but Trent Alexander-Arnold admitted he would “probably” tune in.

It is much the same among supporters, who appear split on the subject of exposing themselves to an agonising 90 minutes not even featuring their own team.

The torturous aspect of Wednesday evening's fixture derives from the fact that, in all likelihood, this is probably the Reds’ last opportunity to take control of the title race.

With the absence of Champions League football leaving less to chance for Manchester City, it is hard not to see three straight title-winning victories on the other side of Old Trafford.

Burnley’s safety takes the edge off a generally tricky trip to Turf Moor, while even a revived Leicester City won’t fancy their chances of joining Crystal Palace as the only team to take a league point from the Etihad Stadium this season.

And even should Brighton be threatened by relegation on the final day of the campaign, recent form suggests they wouldn’t be capable of stopping the champions elect.

So, if Manchester United don’t hand out a favour, it is unlikely anyone else will before the final whistle blows on 2018-19’s 38th game.

Of course, a few months ago, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign was in its gleeful infancy, the debate centred on whether his team would want to help out the Reds this week.

Regardless of what has happened since 2008, City’s achievements still pale in comparison to their near neighbours, and that gap will take a long, long time to bridge.

Liverpool, on the other hand, could move to within one league title of their main rivals’ total of 20 were they to lift the trophy aloft this May.

And so for United fans, whose team at that point looked set to have wiggle room in their bid for Champions League qualification, three points for Pep Guardiola’s men at Old Trafford perhaps represented the lesser of two evils.

However, any leeway the Red Devils may have leaned upon has since evaporated, an outcome that has given rise to a new question entirely: can United stop City winning on their own turf anyway?

Jurgen Klopp certainly didn’t seem to think so when offering a barbed response to that line of inquiry in Cardiff on Sunday.

He said: “It [the derby] is not something we can influence, and it does not look like United are in a place to, either.”

A master psychologist, the German’s attempts to harness hurt pride in the United dressing room for his own benefit were clear.

But none of that should be necessary in the aftermath of a chastening 4-0 defeat at Everton that Solskjaer will hope has at least sharpened hearts and minds in the pursuit of a top-four finish.

As far as Liverpool are concerned, it would be fitting if Sunday’s result at Goodison Park forced a reaction that ultimately brought the title back to Anfield this year.

That is because, if it doesn’t, Reds supporters must face up to the reality that the Toffees’ home ground is where their own title dream died - a goalless Merseyside derby draw in March representing the last time either title-chasing team dropped points.

And for many, that is a prospect that does not bear thinking about.