Liverpool can go 11 factors clear on the high of the Premier League with a win over Manchester Metropolis.
The Anfield showdown between the Premier League heavyweights, on Sunday, is likely one of the most eagerly awaited video games of the season.
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However regardless of the Reds’ superior kind in Arne Slot’s first season in cost since changing Jurgen Klopp, they nonetheless can’t relaxation on their laurels.
That’s the view of Arsenal legend Martin Keown, who believes the Gunners and Manchester Metropolis are nonetheless able to toppling Liverpool off the highest of the tree, regardless of their respective rocky begins.
Earlier than a ball had been kicked within the Premier League this season, many had anticipated the title battle of the final two campaigns between Man Metropolis and Arsenal to proceed.
As a substitute, it’s Liverpool breaking away from the remainder of the pack, with Metropolis’s shiny begin stalling after 5 defeats in a row – the most recent being a 4-0 thrashing at residence to Tottenham.
Then there was the three-goal lead they gave away in opposition to Feyenoord within the Champions League to make it six video games with out a win.
Arsenal, in the meantime, sit in fourth, degree on factors with third place Chelsea, who’re additionally thriving underneath new supervisor Enzo Maresca.
Expectations had been increased than ever heading into this season for the Gunners to be pushing for his or her first title since 2004 after coming agonisingly shut up to now two campaigns.
Keown was a part of that Premier League successful squad, with Arsene Wenger’s facet the one membership moreover Blackburn to disrupt Manchester United’s dominance from the League’s inception in 1993 to the mid-2000s.
Arsenal gained the league in 1998, 2002 and once more in 2004.
Nevertheless, 20 years and a stadium transfer later, Gunners followers are nonetheless ready to see their facet elevate the Premier League trophy once more.
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And though Liverpool are seemingly unstoppable proper now, there’s nonetheless a protracted method to go.
However what has Slot carried out so properly?
Slotting proper in
Beneath the Dutchman, Liverpool have drawn and misplaced twice since taking on from Klopp, who in 2020 delivered the membership a primary league trophy since 1989.
“Jurgen Klopp positively put the foundations in place,” Keown mentioned, reflecting on Liverpool’s robust begin.
“I feel it is while you go right into a soccer membership, it might be very straightforward for [Slot] to have been the one on trial. It does not look that means. It appears just like the gamers are on trial.
“I am even [Andy] Robertson and pondering he is nonetheless on trial, however he is nonetheless selecting him.
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“However he is getting the very best out of everyone.”
Star winger Mohamed Salah despatched shock waves throughout the Liverpool fan base forward of the win over Actual Madrid by revealing he was ‘extra out than in’ by way of signing a brand new deal.
His present contract expires on the finish of the season, and Saudi Professional League golf equipment are circling.
However to this point, Slot has been capable of hold worries concerning the ‘Egyptian King’ underneath management. He is at present the second highest goalscorer within the league this time period with 10 targets – two behind Man Metropolis’s Erling Haaland.
“However he is enjoying offended and [Slot] is bringing the very best out of Salah,” Keown added.
“He is confirmed he can address the kind of uncertainty of what might occur sooner or later. He’ll be high quality wherever he finally ends up. Liverpool followers would dearly like to see him keep there. So he is created the correct mix, however the basis is certainly Klopp.
“And Klopp was rebuilding one other crew right here and for no matter motive obtained drained or fatigued and needed to step away.
“And typically when an important chief like that, who could be very demanding and desires issues carried out at 100 miles an hour, the subsequent man is available in. There is a calmness and I can sense that.
“And it does not look laboured for everyone else, for Metropolis, for Arsenal, their rivals, it appears a grind, appears like actually tough.
“However for Liverpool, they’re snug. And even when, , Southampton handed it on a plate, they had been there to money in and that is the signal of champions.”
In Keown’s thoughts, the race is much from over.
Gunner be tight
When requested what his beloved Gunners can do to shut the hole, fairly than specializing in areas they should enhance when the switch window opens, Keown steered Arsenal’s 3-0 victory in opposition to Nottingham Forest final outing must be the catalyst for an important run of kind.
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“They should win seven or eight video games earlier than [January].
“That is what it’s a must to do. Easy as that. You must go on considered one of these actually excellent runs.
“The Forest recreation was one to close out the noise. Clearly you are it and seeing there’s a lot of accidents, a lot of suspensions, a lot of away video games.
“I imply, Arsenal in the mean time are in a sequence of seven video games the place solely considered one of them is at residence.
“And so that you have a look at it and you concentrate on Liverpool’s fixtures however you all play the identical groups. Even this one now for Liverpool – Man Metropolis – it is a gorgeous time for Liverpool to play Man Metropolis.
“But it surely would possibly simply be an unimaginable second for Metropolis to strike again. So, Arsenal simply have to go on a run, hold wholesome and have everyone out there. Some gamers had been rested on the weekend.
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“I feel it was nice to have us get a relaxation and hope, I suppose, that Liverpool begin to ship factors.
“They are not having any issues proper now. They usually have gained a Premier League in current instances. The nucleus of that crew, definitely the again 4 and [Mohamed] Salah, is a Premier League successful crew.”
Greater than Rodri
Guardiola had by no means misplaced 5 video games in a row as a manger earlier than Metropolis had been mauled by a rampant Spurs final weekend.
Man Metropolis misplaced 2024 Ballon d’Or winner and midfielder Rodri to an Anterior cruciate ligament damage on the finish of September.
They then gained six out of seven video games, earlier than struggling a 2-1 defeat to Spurs within the League Cup. Losses to Bournemouth, Sporting Lisbon, Brighton and once more to Spurs adopted.
Requested when you can pin Man Metropolis’s dire kind on shedding Rodri, Keown mentioned: “No, it could actually’t at all times be nearly one participant, . However you noticed them on the weekend and it is simply… The place their defenders had been so safe all of final yr, by no means made a mistake, first to the ball.
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“Josko Gvardiol, ball into the channel, however he is type of doubting himself. Whereas final yr, he’d have put his foot via it.
“Kyle Walker, blessed with tempo. However when you do not press the go button to dash, does not matter who you’re, you are not going to go fast sufficient, early sufficient. And that seemed like what’s occurring. Perhaps they’re overthinking it an excessive amount of now.”
After the Invincibles success in 2003/04, Keown is aware of what it’s wish to be in a crew not used to shedding.
And he thinks Metropolis at the moment are being put via one thing quite a lot of their gamers gained’t be outfitted to deal with initially.
“If you find yourself successful each week everybody on the skin appears and says, oh, you are superb.
“We had this with the Invincibles and different seasons the place we went unbeaten for a big interval.
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“On the within, I keep in mind talking to [manager] Arsene Wenger and he was saying, ‘Look, if we lose a recreation, …’, [City] should not so used to shedding.
“As a result of when you’re successful, your chest is out, you are proud, , we’re unbeatable. After which when that goes, it could actually disappear, it could actually crumble. And I feel that is the place they’re proper now.
“So their excellence up to now has affected how they get well, , as a result of the constructing is sort of a morgue.
“It is like nobody’s used to shedding. I realized this once I went to Leicester and I went to Studying.
“There are gamers there which have had, , slip ups. You already know, it is virtually like a serious occasion while you lose a recreation. It is an occupational hazard in all places else. However at huge golf equipment, it does not occur.
“So I count on them to leap out of this and so they’ve obtained the instruments to try this. Pep is an impressive supervisor.”