Liverpool threaten to creep under the radar in Premier League title race after seamless Arne Slot transition

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Evening Standard

·26 September 2024

Liverpool threaten to creep under the radar in Premier League title race after seamless Arne Slot transition

Little about early season form suggests any kind of drop-off from Jurgen Klopp era

Arne Slot let off a slight chuckle, paused, and answered not the question he had actually been asked but, rather, the question he wanted to answer.

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Slot was about to dissect the way his side had mauled West Ham 5-1 in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie, but reflected first on the integral importance of players who had called Anfield home long before he turned up.

His grin unmovable, the Liverpool manager said: “You asked me about new players [all summer], and I constantly told you guys how many quality players we already have.”

In every sense, Liverpool have enjoyed a seamless transition from the chest-beating Jurgen Klopp to his Dutch successor.

The club’s only summer signing, Federico Chiesa, registered an assist on his first start for the Reds, and the only one of Liverpool’s key attackers not to add to their goal contributions for the season against West Ham was Luis Diaz — who didn’t feature anyway.

There is little worth to talk of title races in September, but the conversation could not be avoided last weekend as Manchester City sealed a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad.

The blind assumption that it will be Pep Guardiola versus Mikel Arteta for the Premier League title once again is misguided, though.

Liverpool crept similarly under the radar last season, finishing the season just seven points off runners-up Arsenal. A similar story this season?

So far, so good. City won’t go away, despite looking just a touch too reliant on the irrepressible Erling Haaland for goals. Nor will Arsenal, despite their love affair with the dark arts.

Liverpool are reliant on neither. Goals and assists are spread evenly between Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz. At the other end, only three goals have been shipped so far, without the need for the rather tedious timewasting tactics deployed by a certain other team in red.

Speaking about Chiesa’s first start but addressing Liverpool’s culture more broadly, Slot added: “Even if a lot of new players come in, they don’t come in and try to have a good individual performance — they work really hard for the team.” The pride in his tone was detectable as he pointed that out.

Liverpool boast enviable strength in depth despite not making many signings this summer

Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Liverpool sit second in the Premier League table, one point off City, and with the highest goal difference.

They have shown few faults so far, have enviable squad depth, and players outside the regular XI never come in and disgrace themselves. And they have Anfield: the very definition of a ‘fortress’. Their home defeat to Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago — the only game they haven’t won this season — felt an anomaly then and still does now.

Arsenal recruited shrewdly this summer but still look light — as in, lighter than City — in some areas, while the loss of Rodri to a knee injury opens up a sizeable chasm in Guardiola’s midfield and could cost City dearly.

Slot’s side will be glad to be the least talked-about and talked-up of the three. The longer this is considered a two-horse race, the better, as far as Liverpool are concerned.

Winning the toughest league in the world in his first season would be an extraordinary feat by Slot, and expecting him to do so would be silly. But is there anything about Liverpool in the opening weeks of the season to suggest they cannot challenge?