Liverpool have consolidated their lead at the top of the Premier League table after a convincing win over Tottenham Hotspur. The Kop are now four points clear of Chelsea with a game in hand, giving Arne Slot's side the biggest advantage in the title race this season.
However, there is clearly no complacency at Anfield. The Reds boss has enough experience and caution to know that the lessons of the past force his team to be alert.
History is not kind to Liverpool when it comes to being top at Christmas. Since the Premier League began, the Merseyside club have been top of the table seven times on December 25, but have only gone on to win the title once. That compares with 16 of the 32 teams that were top at Christmas, which shows the Reds often run out of steam in the final stages.
Even with Jurgen Klopp in charge, Liverpool have been top of the table three times at Christmas but only once in the 2019-2020 season have they retained the title. Man City are the main rivals to stop the “Reds” as they often have explosive form in the second half of the season.
Chelsea and Arsenal are Liverpool's two biggest rivals for the title this season, both ready to take advantage of any mistake from the Reds. Under the guidance of new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea are quietly establishing themselves as potential contenders.
Meanwhile, Arsenal, although not having the best performances, have proven their ability to make a strong breakthrough since January last season with 16 wins in the last 18 matches. If The Gunners have full strength and reproduce the destructive form of a year ago, the championship race will last until the final rounds.
Besides, Man City cannot be underestimated in the rest of the season. Pep Guardiola's team often revives in the second phase of the season. If The Citizens are favorable in the winter transfer window, they can regain their strength to compete.
Liverpool currently lead by four points but this advantage could quickly disappear. The Reds will face Man United and Nottingham Forest in the next rounds. Notably, Forest are the only team to beat The Kop this season. In addition, Arne Slot and his students have a make-up match against Everton at Goodison Park, where they lost last season.
The tight fixture list is one of Liverpool's biggest challenges. In the past two years, the Anfield team has extended its efforts to compete until March in all four competitions but has run out of steam at crucial moments. In the 2021-2022 season, The Kop were just two games away from a quadruple but ultimately missed out on both the Premier League and Champions League.
Injuries to Alisson, Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold last season have left Liverpool vulnerable. If defensive issues continue, the Reds could be in serious trouble. Arne Slot may need to add a versatile defender in the January transfer window to bolster his squad.
The Dutchman will also face tough decisions about his priorities, with competing in the League Cup and Champions League, along with maintaining Premier League strength, likely to leave the squad exhausted in April and May.
The futures of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also being questioned at every press conference, and while this hasn’t affected their performances, the constant attention could become an issue as the pressure mounts towards the end of the season.
If Liverpool fail to reach an agreement with their stars before crucial games, individual mistakes could be magnified, affecting team morale. Maintaining focus and keeping the noise off the pitch to a minimum will be key to maintaining the Reds' form.
Finally, the pressure will only increase on Arne Slot for the remainder of the season. He has shown composure and a clear strategy since replacing Klopp. The Dutchman won the title with Feyenoord, but the pressure at Liverpool will be a different story. Managing a big club at the crucial stage of the season, when fan expectations are at their highest, is a completely different experience.
