LFC’s Mid-Season Verdict: Can Slot’s Reds Go the Distance

Liverpool's remarkable performance this season has placed them in a dominant position in the Premier League championship competition as we head into the new year. Confidence is surging at Anfield, with a 4 point-advantage over Chelsea, as well as a 8 point-advantage lead over Manchester City, all without having to play at the weekend due to adverse weather putting a halt to the last-ever Goodison Merseyside derby. 

Could Arne Slot do the unthinkable and obtain EPL glory in his debut season?

We must remain optimistic at this early stage of the season, but should the Reds continue with their current form, nothing stops Merseyside’s finest from leaving Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City in the dirt. 

Slot must take advantage of a strong lead

Liverpool's present advantage over its primary competitors is critical. This initial advantage places Liverpool in a robust position and compels their rivals to pursue them—a situation that has traditionally benefited EPL title-winning teams. 

Triumphing a less confident City squad  

Manchester City have exhibited an atypical inconsistency this season. Pep and Co. have not maintained their usual dominance, indicating that Liverpool's constancy has distinguished them. Arsenal, on the other hand, for their brilliance, have failed to keep pace with Liverpool's unrelenting speed.
One must not begin to believe they have achieved victory in December. Liverpool's fortitude this season lies in their capacity to approach each match with uniform energy and preparation, a crucial factor in sustaining their present advantage.

What do the bookies think? 

Suppose we put our personal analysis and feelings aside and consider the oddsmakers' opinions. In that case, the best betting sites will reveal a level of confidence where Liverpool holds a 60% implied probability chance of winning the Premier League title, which is a huge 35% difference to second placed Chelsea and a whopping 45.7% difference to Man City despite being just four months into the season.

Team	Odds to Win the EPL Title	Implied Probability of Winning the EPL Title
Liverpool	4/6	60%
Arsenal	3/1	25%
Chelsea	6/1	14.3%
Man City	9/1	10%

EPL outright winner odds were taken on 12 Dec 2024

Momentum leads the way for Liverpool

Momentum is crucial in any elite football competition, and Liverpool's robust beginning has positioned them well. Their established lead provides a significant psychological advantage, as fellow rivals will now experience the pressure to secure victories in every match. As Liverpool consistently accumulates points against elite teams and mid-tier rivals, the disparity may increase in the forthcoming weeks.

The forthcoming encounters between City, Arsenal, and Liverpool later in the season will be pivotal. The upcoming games will determine the title chase; nonetheless, Liverpool is well-positioned to manage that pressure, a belief corroborated by Slot's present mindset. 

Slot is taking nothing for granted

Slot promptly tempered expectations following the conclusion of Liverpool's recent victory against Man City:

“I saw Arsenal yesterday and Chelsea today, and I saw City; they will come back because those teams have so much quality. They could go on the same run as us. So, we have to stay sharp and focused.”

Slot’s mindset is aligned with reality, and he’ll take nothing for granted, including the position his team is currently in. Especially when factoring in the volatility of Premier League form. While the Reds currently appear to be thriving, circumstances in football can shift rapidly. Consider Manchester City, who, after defeating Southampton on October 26 to reclaim the top position in the league and extending their unbeaten streak to 32 matches, have since won just one of nine games in all competitions, stretching back to October.

Further confirmation: Liverpool need only consider Arsenal to recall that substantial leads can be easily relinquished. The Gunners possessed an eight-point advantage in January 2023, only for City to surge back and secure the title by five points—an occurrence Mikel Arteta recently highlighted to his competitors. 

EPL and Champions League double for Liverpool! 

We don’t want to jump the gun or place any unwarranted jinxes on Slot and Co., but currently, the Reds form is some of the best in Europe, and that means an EPL title could sit tidily next to another Champions League piece of silverware by next summer.

Liverpool not only recently defeated the incumbent European champions, Real Madrid, and the Premier League titleholders, Manchester City, but they did it with confidence and overwhelming precision. No goals were allowed in the two matches, and the four goals scored exaggerated the rival teams' performance. Indeed, Real Madrid faced injuries, and Manchester City was experiencing its worst dismal performance in a decade. Still, Slot's team demolished them in nothing less than formidable fashion.

Liverpool's lack of surprise over acquiring two victories underscores their greatness. Slot has modified Klopp's frenetic, often reckless approach throughout his tenure, introducing a degree of control that facilitates a more composed campaign in which errors appear improbable.

Rivals are dropping like flies

Indeed, Liverpool's competitors for the EPL championship are presently declining, which benefits Liverpool. It is perplexing to dismiss Manchester City at this juncture, but their performances, regardless of outcomes, require significant improvement if they are to achieve the unprecedented feat of winning five consecutive league titles.

In Europe, a comparable situation instils optimism among Liverpool fans for a seventh significant European trophy. Real Madrid's Galacticos 2.0 have not cohesively performed in the Champions League and are experiencing widespread injuries. At the same time, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan appear to be the only teams against which Liverpool would have significant challenges.

This indicates that Liverpool exhibits no indications of deceleration. Provided they can avoid significant injuries, securing both the Champions League and Premier League titles is a plausible and attainable objective for Liverpool's inaugural season under Slot's leadership.

Final Thoughts: Title glory for the Reds in 2025?

Liverpool's standing in the EPL title battle and UCL dominance exemplify their stability, depth, and tactical rigour under Arne Slot. While it is an excellent beginning, attention must stay on the forthcoming games. With a lead over their nearest competitors, Liverpool has a fantastic opportunity to advance and secure another title-winning season, and who knows? Maybe a double or even treble for good measure! 

 

Written by Alan Spencer