Liverpool’s Strong Start: Can They Stay Top of Premier League? | OneFootball

Liverpool in the Premier League: Can They Stay at the Top?

The scene at Molineux on Saturday spoke volumes. After a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wolves, Liverpool fans burst into their favourite chant: “Liverpool, Liverpool, top of the league.”

While Manchester City and Arsenal exchange jabs, Liverpool have been quietly climbing the Premier League ranks, persistently pressing forward like the formidable team they are. Under new management, the Reds have now reached the summit of the table, leaving fans wondering: what does being top after six matches truly signify? More importantly, can Liverpool maintain this momentum?

Early Leaders: What History Tells Us

Being first in the Premier League early on can be both promising and deceptive. Recent history suggests it’s not always the strongest indicator of future success. Yes, Manchester City were top after six games last season, and they eventually won the title. Similarly, in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign of 2019-20, they led early and never looked back.

However, only four times in the last 10 seasons have the leaders after six games gone on to win the league. These include City in 2017-18 and Chelsea in 2014-15. The current standings may offer hope, but they’re far from a guarantee.

For further proof of how misleading early positions can be, look no further than Everton. In 2020, under Carlo Ancelotti, Everton were top at this stage, only to fade dramatically and finish mid-table. While Liverpool’s squad seems more resilient than their Merseyside neighbours, especially with tougher fixtures looming, it’s too early to predict their staying power.

Photo: IMAGO

The Secret to Liverpool’s Rise

Despite the small sample size, Liverpool have shown promising signs this season. The team has struck a balance in key areas, starting with their defence. Virgil van Dijk, commanding as ever, has found an excellent partner in Ibrahima Konaté. Despite a brief defensive lapse against Wolves, the French defender has returned to his best form, solidifying Liverpool’s backline.

In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch has emerged as a crucial player. His performance against Wolves was particularly impressive, where he won all eight of his duels and made the most tackles, along with 19 progressive passes into the final third. This blend of skill and grit has helped Gravenberch excel in the deeper midfield role, allowing Alexis Mac Allister to play more freely.

Statistics back up Gravenberch’s importance: his passing accuracy of 89% ranks him among the top players in the division. After the Wolves match, he told Sky Sports that regaining his starting spot has restored his confidence, a vital component of his recent form.

Meanwhile, Arne Slot, the new manager, has shown a preference for working with a tight-knit group of players. Eight of them, including Gravenberch, have started every game this season. Slot’s trust in this core group is paying off, though he’ll need luck with injuries to keep this consistency going. With players like Luis Diaz and Darwin Núñez both contributing to the goal tally, Liverpool are looking like a cohesive, winning machine again.

But how long can this surge last? The real test comes in the months ahead. October through December will bring a string of tricky matches, not just in the Premier League but also in the Champions League. Games against Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Aston Villa loom on the horizon, providing a clearer picture of Liverpool’s capabilities.

Photo: IMAGO

How Liverpool Are Handling Success

Slot remains calm in his public appearances, refusing to get carried away by Liverpool’s current position. He’s quick to remind fans that the Reds haven’t yet faced many of last season’s top eight teams.

After their dominant 3-0 win over Manchester United, Slot cautiously praised his side but held off on making bold declarations. “It’s more at 19 games when you start to feel where you are,” Slot said after the Wolves victory. “We still have to prove it when we come across teams like Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa to see if we can stay up there.”

Veteran players like Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson echo this cautious optimism. Van Dijk, ever the composed leader, knows that the season’s defining moments come in December. “December is a crucial month,” he told reporters. “Teams that come through well and with no injuries have a good chance to be successful.”

Robertson struck a similar tone. When asked how many teams are in the title race, he responded, “Who knows? There’s far too many games ahead. You know by Christmas who is in it, and what kind of position you are in. We just have to take it game by game.”

These seasoned players understand the intense demands of a Premier League title race. After all, Liverpool have been in this position before, topping the table at this stage in three of the past five seasons but only converting one of those leads into a title.

Photo: IMAGO

What Needs to Change for Liverpool to Succeed

If Liverpool are to sustain their title challenge this season, they’ll need to avoid the pitfalls that undermined last year’s campaign. Injuries to key players were an issue, but the bigger problem was their inability to regain form quickly after returning from the treatment room.

Slot, working closely with Liverpool’s medical team, will be determined to prevent a repeat. Keeping players like Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Diogo Jota fit and firing will be crucial. Salah, in particular, has already shown immense commitment, defending as energetically as he attacks. As Van Dijk pointed out after the Wolves game, “Look at the last 10 minutes. I don’t know how many times Mo was in the box heading balls away and that’s the commitment we need from everyone.”

This season feels different, though. Where last year’s Liverpool was a team in transition, this squad seems refreshed and ready to fight for every point. As Robertson noted, “The staff have been really good at making us prepared for every single game, making sure we are as fresh as possible.”

In Slot, Liverpool have a manager who has swiftly adapted to the Premier League’s demands, blending tactical acumen with a calm demeanour. This combination, along with the depth and quality of the squad, gives Liverpool every chance of staying at the top. However, it will be the upcoming challenges against fellow title contenders that ultimately determine their fate.

As the season unfolds, the Reds will need to continue evolving. But for now, Liverpool fans have every reason to be cautiously optimistic about their chances of lifting the Premier League trophy once again.