The nine days that will decide Liverpool's Premier League FATE

Liverpool are leading the race for the Premier League this season, but their 20th title is by no means guaranteed.

Liverpool Transfer Latest: Reds ready offer as star says he's STAYING

The Reds have a seven-point lead over Arsenal with 13 matches still to play, but the next nine days could decide the destination of this year’s Premier League trophy.

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool ready to strike deal with Colombian contract rebel

After clinging on to win 2-1 against Wolves on Sunday, a match in which Liverpool failed to register a single shot in the second half, the Reds now have three games in the next nine days – all in the Premier League.

With fatigue starting to creep in, this run could be make or break for Arne Slot and his players.

Are Liverpool feeling the effects of fatigue?

Following the Reds victory on Sunday, the issue of fatigue was the first thing many supporter and pundits turned to.

When asked if fatigue was a factor in Liverpool struggling to create chances in the second half, Andy Robertson refused to rule it out. “[Fatigue was] maybe part of it but I thought Wolves were excellent [in the] second half,” Robertson told the club website.

Slot was also questioned about whether fatigue was starting to creep in, and his answer may not be what supporters were hoping for.

“You always wonder if that fatigue only comes from running a lot or if it’s a bit of mental fatigue as well,” Slot told Sky Sports.

“We were mentally tested today. We thought we'd scored a third and then had a penalty for the third but both were correctly handled by the referee. But then conceding the 2-1 straight afterwards, that is a mental test.”

This tough victory came just four days after Everton scored an injury time equaliser to take points off Liverpool in Goodison’s last Merseyside derby.

READ MORE: How to get Carabao Cup final tickets

After two very tough games less than a week apart, the Liverpool boss seems to be aware that fatigue is affecting his players.

“Maybe that leads to us being a bit tired because I did see for the first time this season that the players were more tired than they were in other games.”

The next nine days for Liverpool

Over the next nine days, Slots side face away trips to both Aston Villa and Manchester City before Newcastle come to Anfield.

These three matches will be crucial to the Reds’ title charge but, if they are already feeling fatigue, it could be a very difficult run.

Liverpool have had much better availability since the arrival of Slot – perhaps thanks to Ruben Peeters, the lead physical performance coach.

At this point last season, Liverpool players had missed 106 Premier League games through injury, that figure sits at just 64 this season.

That improved availability has no doubt helped Liverpool get to the position they’re in now, but it could be their downfall too.

The big hurdle for Liverpool’s run-in

Slot has consistently relied on a core of eight or nine players that have played the vast majority of minutes in the league for Liverpool this season and some of those players, such as Ryan Gravenberch, are starting to falter.

This same core of players experienced a drop-off at a similar time last season, one that saw them fall out of the league title race and exit the Europa League.

Slot’s job now is to combat the effects of fatigue and ensure that such a drop-off doesn’t happen again.

READ MORE: Hugo Ekitike's agent drops massive hint about €80m Liverpool move

Liverpool’s next three matches are crucial, and winning all three would go a long way towards the Premier League trophy returning to Anfield in May, but Slot must work out a way to overcome or avoid fatigue for that to happen.

Liverpool FC news recap: Reds celebrate as Slot confirms star is BACK