Is the Premier League title Liverpool’s to lose?

With over half the season played, Arne Slot’s Liverpool team have built a healthy lead at the top of the Premier League table. Far from unassailable, but there is a quiet confidence that Slot can bring the Premier League trophy back to Anfield in his debut season for the first time since the 2019/20 campaign under Jürgen Klopp. There is still a lot of football to be played in all competitions, but has Liverpool’s early season form, coupled with the struggles of title rivals, put them in pole position to win their 20th topflight trophy?

Mohamed Salah Liverpool

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2024/08/29/salah-out-to-enjoy-final-year-of-liverpool-contract/

The Egyptian King

The sight of Mo Salah on the scoresheet is nothing new to Liverpool fans, but it seems the Liverpool legend has taken his game to an even higher level this season. In the thrilling 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in December 2024, Salah became the first player in Premier League history to register double figures in goals and assists before Christmas.

Ahead of matchday 22, Salah has only failed to score or assist a goal in three matches, providing all-round contributions in eight of twenty-one matches. Always the man for the big occasion, Salah has also contributed key goals in pivotal moments, sealing the win in a vital 2-0 victory over Manchester City on 1st December 2024, while also scoring the equalizer in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates back in October 2024.

And this is all being achieved with an uncertain future in Liverpool for Salah. Contract negotiations to extend the Egyptians stay beyond summer, when his contract expires, do not seem to be progressing with Salah himself hinting that a new challenge might lie ahead. However, whatever the outcome, Salah will want to maintain his sparkling form to get Liverpool over the line in the Premier League.

Cup Distractions & Squad Game

The new year also brings cup competitions back into the minds of Premier League managers. In the league, Liverpool have recently dropped points against arch-rivals Manchester United (2-2), and Premier League surprise package Nottingham Forest (1-1). Coupled with a defeat in the Carabao Cup semi final first leg away at Tottenham Hotspur and the start of the FA Cup campaign, Slot will want to ensure that the recent cup defeat and resumption of the Champions League do not prove a distraction for his squad.

In fact, the squad will be relied on more than ever as fixtures begin to come thick and fast. With a perfect record in the revamped Champions League league stage, Slot can consider his side all but qualified for the Round of 16, avoiding another two-legged playoff match in doing so. Gambling sites that accept credit cards as well have Liverpool down as favorites to lift their first Champions League trophy since 2019, again under Klopp.

Punters will look at the imbalance in Real Madrid’s team with Mbappe seemingly providing more problems than solutions, the struggles of Manchester City and Arsenal and the inexperience of Vincent Kompany at FC Bayern Munich as reasons to champion Liverpool to lift the trophy.

However, in Slot’s first season in English football, with a competitive Carabao Cup and FA Cup to deal with, will his inexperience in English football become a factor? The use and contributions of squad players Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley, and Konstantinos Tsimikas could be vital in determining Liverpool’s success at the end of the season.

Slot to secure trophies, but how many?

At a pivotal stage of the season, Liverpool and Slot have put themselves in a fantastic position in all competitions. Although they trail to Tottenham Hotspur going into the second leg, Liverpool will be confident of reaching the Carabao Cup final and winning their third trophy in four seasons.

A comfortable 4-0 win against League Two Accrington Stanley saw Liverpool into the fourth round of the FA Cup and a tie away at Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle, while Slot will now surely be mapping out Liverpool’s path through the knockout stages of the Champions League.

But for many Liverpool fans, the priority should remain the Premier League. After many years of Manchester City domination, and with Pep Guardiola’s side seemingly out of the picture this season, there is a big chance to return to the summit of English football for Slot and his charges.

Nothing will be taken for granted, especially when only half of the teams that topped the league at Christmas went on to actually win the league in the past thirty-two seasons, but Liverpool will be confident of adding more trophies to the Anfield cabinet. The question is, which ones?

 

You might also like