Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Tuesday, September 21. Manchester duo tipped to finish above Liverpool While Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side have been one of the most impressive teams in the Premier League this season - they sit joint-top of the pile with Chelsea after five games - a statistical model has predicted them to fall short in their title charge. That model was formulated through research from the CIES Football Observatory, who say Liverpool will end up third.If their prediction was to manifest as reality, the Reds would be ahead of Chelsea but behind Manchester City - who are predicted to retain their Premier League crown - and Manchester United. The predicted top four is exactly the same order as the teams finished in last season, as Liverpool rallied from a mid-term wobble to secure Champions League football. CIES' model is based on a variety of factors, including experience, transfer fees and performances over the course of the last year. Ian Doyle has the full story HERE. Sign up to our free LFC newsletterGet all the latest Liverpool breaking news, team news, transfer rumours, injury updates plus analysis of what's next for the Reds.You'll also get the latest transfer talk and analysis straight to your inbox every day with our FREE email newsletter.Sign up here - it only takes a few seconds!Thiago a doubt for vital Liverpool fixtures The stuttering theme of Thiago Alcantara's Liverpool career appears set to continue, after it was confirmed the calf injury accrued in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace will keep him out for around two games. Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders took over media duties on Monday on the eve of the team's League Cup showdown with Norwich City. He was asked about how long the playmaker is set to be on the sidelines for, after he hobbled out of the clash with the Eagles."Thiago, how the gaffer said after the game, it was a calf injury," he said. "I cant say now how long it will take but definitely not tomorrow and not at the weekend." Lijnders did confirm that Liverpool have not received Thiago's full scan results back yet, so the full extent of the issue is not known. After their trip to Carrow Road on Tuesday, the Reds take on newly-promoted Brentford on Saturday evening. They then visit Porto in the Champions League before a crunch clash with Manchester City at Anfield on October 3. Ian Doyle has the full story HERE. Read MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated Articles