Gary Breen believes Liverpool's title credentials will be judged on Jurgen Klopp's side deal with breaking down teams in the bottom half of the table.
Liverpool have the chance to move top of the Premier League this evening as they host Cardiff City at 3pm.
Speaking on Saturday's Off The Ball, Breen explained the how the title raced can be shaped by their ability to come through games against teams like these.
"We have to look at how Liverpool dealt with teams like this before, teams who defend deep," he said.
"In the last couple of years, they've struggled to put those type of teams to bed. It's in total contrast to Manchester City who invariably tend to win these games 4-0 or 5-0 and comfortably get it done.
"Liverpool can cope with the physicality of these teams now this season better than they ever have.
"There's a belief now that they can easily cope with most teams. The biggest question around Liverpool this season is how they deal with these type of games and whether or not they drop points."
Mo Salah will play a big role in whether Liverpool can mount a sustained push for the Premier League title. Image: Martin Rickett/PA Archive/PA Images
Breen pointed out that when it comes to top-of-the-table clashes, Klopp's side have proven that they can compete with the best teams in the league.
"When they go head-to-head with Manchester City you'd back them because of how comfortably they dealt with them in the Champions League.
"The test of their Premier League credentials is how well they tot up the points before they go into them big head-to-head games."
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