Titles, like history, can hinge on fateful turning points.

If Liverpool are not crowned EPL champions this season, fans will point to two such potential instances a week apart.

One was a goal for the ages, the other a miss for the millennium.

And the club itself will no doubt rue “a miss” of a different kind the previous month.

But first the action on the field.

If James Tarkowski had not hit the bull’s eye at Everton and Darwin Nunez had found an empty net from six metres at Villa Park, the Reds would now be booking their open-top bus parade.

A 12-point lead in mid-February would surely be beyond an injury-ravaged Arsenal.

But instead of wins, the Reds had to settle for two 2-2 draws and now the lead is only eight and the Gunners have a game in hand.

As if that were not enough to cause a few Kop hearts to flutter, it will likely be down to five by the time their beloved team next takes to the field.

It will be at 00.30am (Malaysian time) on Monday at Manchester City.

That fixture no longer has the ominous ring of recent years but will be a tougher assignment than West Ham, who go to the Emirates as little more than cannon fodder on Saturday.

A definite three points to Arsenal.

As debate rages over whether Liverpool are in a blip, a wobble or something more serious, they are still unbeaten away from home.

And, like true champions, they have won when playing badly – last weekend against Wolves.

You might well ask, if this is a wobble, what are City in?

Liverpool had improved against Villa and looked like sealing an impressive win when Dominik Szoboszlai beat keeper Emmy Martinez and squared to the Uruguayan, Nunez.

But what followed was straight from a rugby field as the ball sailed high over the bar and into Row Z.

When a manager asks if the player might have been offside to spare his blushes – as Arne Slot admitted to doing – it has to be a howler for the ages. And it was.

But it’s not just this one – it’s the accumulation. Even the greats have their misses, but not on this scale, this often and in such key moments.

This one broke the camel’s back.

It was never going to be offside and is another for his bulging collection.

It’s way too many for this level – any level outside the pub league.

Nunez may have achieved cult status and has earned his nickname “Chaos” by creating a fair bit to opposing defences with his speed and energy.

But enough is surely enough for a team at the top of English and European football.

Last season he missed no less than 27 big chances – these things are measured now – which is way too many for a so-called professional.

And what about all the offsides?

Slot said the striker was “disappointed and down” afterwards as both the magnitude and consequences of the miss sank in.

But he didn’t look too distraught when laughing with Villa’s Argentine keeper on the field.

Kopites piled in on him, many suggesting a knockdown price just to get rid of him.

Some even said Liverpool should pay a club to take him away.

But when it comes to regrets, it’s not just Nunez – it’s Liverpool FC who must be kicking themselves.

Last month, Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, who lured Cristiano Ronaldo to the desert, wanted to buy the 25-year-old as a strike partner.

The hands-on-hips moments from CR7 would have made the Saudi Pro league compulsive viewing, but I digress.

Al Nassr offered – and this is where it gets really painful for Liverpool – a princely £62m to buy him but it was turned down.

Word is that the club thought seriously about it but didn’t feel there was enough time to find a replacement.

To most Kopites, it’s no excuse and now who on earth is going to pay even half of £62m for him after displays like this?

And replacements? Villa managed to bring in a clutch of players in January, using the £62m they got for selling Jhon Duran to Al Nassr.

As a result, they found new energy and could well make a late run for a Champions League place.

It cannot have been beyond Liverpool’s esteemed data nerds to find a player – even a loanee to fill in – who could bring something more than Chaos.

And the £62m would go towards a top signing like Alexander Isak in the summer.

Why, if such a deal was in the offing, it might even persuade the three out-of-contract players to stay on.

Liverpool with Mo Salah and Isak would be something to behold.

City managed to find Omar Marmoush, who already looks a lively addition at just a tad more than what was offered for Nunez.

The “FSG Out” brigade will no doubt use it as ammunition in their campaign to remove Liverpool’s owners, but such decisions would not reach that level and be down to Slot and the director of football, Richard Hughes.

Both must be at the end of their tether with the man Jurgen Klopp paid a record fee for three years ago.

It was supposed to rise to £85m with add-ons but if they are personal targets, there should be no danger of that being reached.

But instead of snapping the buyers’ hands off, Liverpool stuck with what they had in January even though they knew the fixtures would be coming at them like machine-gun fire.

After City, it’s Newcastle in the league on Thursday and the Magpies again in the Carabao Cup final.

Slot is acknowledging that players are tired and he’s having to manage their minutes like a strict dietician does calories.

And it was because he had to take Diogo Jota off that the ex-Benfica man came on in the first place.

The undeniable fact is that he has become a liability. There have been moments when he looked like he might make it and some memorable goals.

But they are increasingly hard to find among the howlers and offsides.

Better hope the Saudis still want him in the summer and that Salah can ensure the title doesn’t go astray.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.