Arne Slot has Mohamed Salah sacked and Liverpool have the champion mark, but Arsenal and Man City could still deliver a knockout blow
Liverpool can be 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win over Manchester City.
The Anfield showdown between the Premier League heavyweights on Sunday is one of the most anticipated matches of the season.
But despite the Reds' superior form in Arne Slot's first season in charge since replacing Jurgen Klopp, they are yet to rest on their laurels.
That is the vision of Arsenal legend Martin Keownwho believes in the Gunners and city of manchester they are still capable of taking down Liverpool from the top of the tree, despite their respective rocky beginnings.
Before a ball was kicked in the Premier League this season, many expected the title battle of the last two campaigns between Man City and Arsenal to continue.
Instead, it's Liverpool separating themselves from the rest of the pack, with City's bright start stalled after five straight defeats, the latest a 4-0 rout at home to Tottenham.
Then came the three-goal lead they lost against Feyenoord in the Champions League to go six games without a win.
Arsenal, for its part, occupies fourth place, tied on points with third. Chelseawho are also thriving under new coach Enzo Maresca.
Expectations were higher than ever heading into this season for the Gunners to challenge for their first title since 2004 after coming agonizingly close in the last two campaigns.
Keown was part of that Premier League winning team, with Arsene Wenger's side the only club other than Blackburn to interrupt Manchester United's dominance from the League's inception in 1993 until the mid-2000s.
Arsenal won the league in 1998, 2002 and again in 2004.
However, 20 years and a change of stadium later, Gunners fans are still hoping to see their team lift the Premier League trophy again.
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And although Liverpool seem unstoppable at the moment, there is still a long way to go.
But what has Slot done so well?
Fitting right in
Under the Dutchman, Liverpool have drawn and lost twice since taking over from Klopp, who in 2020 gave the club its first league trophy since 1989.
“Jurgen Klopp definitely laid the foundations,” said Keown, reflecting on Liverpool's good start.
“I think when you come into a football club, it would be very easy for (Slot) to have been the one on trial. It doesn't seem like it. It seems that the players are being judged.
“I'm even looking at (Andy) Robertson and thinking he's still on trial, but he's still picking him.
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“But he's getting the best of everyone.”
star winger Mohamed Salah He shocked the Liverpool fan base ahead of the win over Real Madrid by revealing he was 'more outside than inside' in terms of signing a new agreement.
His current contract expires at the end of the season and Saudi Pro League clubs are circling.
But so far, Slot has been able to keep concerns about the “Egyptian King” under control. He is currently the second top scorer in the league this season with 10 goals, two behind Manchester City. Erling Haaland.
“But he's playing angry and (Slot) is getting the best out of Salah,” Keown added.
“He has shown that he can cope with the uncertainty of what could happen in the future. He'll be fine wherever he ends up. Liverpool fans would love to see him stay there. So he created the right combination, but the base is definitely Klopp.
“And Klopp was rebuilding another team here and for some reason he got tired or fatigued and wanted to walk away.
“And sometimes, when a great leader is like that, who is very demanding and wants things to be done at 100 miles an hour, the next one comes along. There is calm and I can feel that.
“And it doesn't seem laborious for everyone else, for City, Arsenal, their competitors, it seems routine, it seems really difficult.
“But Liverpool feel comfortable. And even when, you know, Southampton handed it on a plate, they were there to capitalize and that's the sign of champions.”
In Keown's opinion, the race is far from over.
Gunner is tight
When asked what his beloved Gunners can do to close the gap, rather than focusing on areas that need improvement when the transfer window opens, Keown suggested that Arsenal's 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest last time out should be the catalyst for a great streak. of form.
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“They need to win seven or eight games before (January).
“That's what you have to do. It's that simple. You have to do one of these really exceptional races.
“The Forest game was one to silence the noise. Obviously, you look at it and see that there are a lot of injuries, a lot of suspensions, a lot of away games.
“I mean, Arsenal at the moment are in a sequence of seven games in which only one of them is at home.
“Then you look at it and think of Liverpool games, but you all play against the same teams. Even this game for Liverpool, Man City, is a beautiful moment for Liverpool to play against Man City.
“But it could be an incredible moment for City to fight back. So Arsenal just need to go out and run, stay healthy and have everyone available. Some players rested over the weekend.
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“I think it was fantastic that we rested and I hope, I suppose, that Liverpool start to get points.
“They don't seem to have any problems at the moment. And they have won a Premier League in recent times. “The core of that team, certainly the four defenders and (Mohamed) Salah, is a Premier League winning team.”
Bigger than Rodri
Guardiola had never lost five games in a row as a manager before City were attacked by a rampant Spurs team last weekend.
Man City lost midfielder and 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri to an ACL injury at the end of September.
They then won six of seven games, before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Spurs in the League Cup. Defeats followed to Bournemouth, Sporting Lisbon, Brighton and again to Spurs.
Asked if Manchester City's terrible form can be attributed to the loss of Rodri, Keown said: “No, it can't always be about one player, you know? But you saw them at the weekend and it's just… Their defenders were so confident all last year, they never made a mistake, they were the first ones to the ball.
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“Josko Gvardiol, ball into the channel, but he has doubts. Whereas last year, I would have put my foot into it.
“Kyle Walker, blessed with the rhythm. But if you don't press the go button to run, no matter who you are, you won't go fast enough or early enough. And that seemed like what's happening. Maybe they are thinking too much about it now.”
After the success of the Invincibles in 2003/04, Keown knows what it is like to be in a team that is not used to losing.
And he believes City are now going through something that many of their players will not be prepared to deal with initially.
“When you win every week, everyone outside looks at you and says, oh, you're amazing.
“We had this with the Invincibles and other seasons where we were undefeated for a long period.
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“Inwardly, I remember talking to (coach) Arsene Wenger and he told me: 'Look, if we lose a game, you know…', (City) are not so used to losing.
“Because when you're winning, you stick out your chest, you're proud, you know, we're unbeatable. And then when that goes away, it can go away, it can fall apart. And I think that's where they are now.
“So their excellence in the past has affected the way they recover, you know, because the building is like a morgue.
“It's like no one is used to losing. I learned this when I went to Leicester and I went to Reading.
“There are players who have had, you know, mistakes. You know, it's almost like a major event when you lose a game. It's an occupational hazard anywhere else. But in big clubs this does not happen.
“So I hope they get through this and have the tools to do it. “Pep is an exceptional coach.”
