The antepost market suggested Pep Guardiola’s team would complete the hat-trick with ease. They may still do – there’s plenty of football yet to be played – but it’s looking increasingly unlikely with the passing of every result.
Liverpool’s success is no surprise
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have raced out of the traps and, confident from their Champions League winning run of last season, have taken the bull by the horns in the Premier League early exchanges. It really shouldn’t rate as much of a surprise either.
Liverpool were beaten by Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final before winning the same trophy a year later. They were edged by Man City for the Premier League crown, could they go one better in spring?
The current betting shows bookies have been forced to give Liverpool the respect they deserve. The Reds have had their price slashed and they are now in to 4/6 with the Betway betting firm to lift the title. Man City have been pushed out to 11/8, ahead of third favourites Chelsea at 80/1.
Liverpool’s perfect eight
Heading into another international break which saw the Euro 2020 qualifiers resume on the second weekend of October and it allowed followers of the Premier League to catch their breath and take stock of what we have seen in the English top division so far.
With eight games in the results book, Liverpool have won eight, scored 20 goals and conceded just six. That leaves them on 24 points, already eight ahead of Manchester City in second. Its little wonder traders are clambering to get on the right side of the early pace setters.
A 100% start has fans dreaming of Liverpool going all the way to the silverware, but could we be about to see another famous invincibles season? It doesn’t happen too often in world football and is even more rare in the English top-flight. So, what’s the chances of Liverpool winning the league and doing it as an unbeaten team?
Challenges await in October
There are plenty of challenges on the horizon, of course, not least of all in October. Liverpool return from the international break with a trip to Old Trafford. Never easy, but perhaps they face Manchester United at exactly the right time. It’s not often we see Man City fans wanting a favour from their old enemy but United would certainly throw City a lifeline if they were to find a way to win and put a dent in the Liverpool express.
Liverpool then line-up at Anfield against Tottenham. Another tricky match but, once again, timing could be everything. Spurs have been seen desperately out of form of late and won’t welcome a trip to the league leaders just yet. That match comes on the back of a tricky Champions League outing for both in midweek.
We see the first meeting of champion and challenger on 10 November when Liverpool welcome Man City to Anfield for a Sunday 4.30pm kick-off. If The Reds still have their 100% record at that stage and go on to beat the champions they would take a huge step towards the trophy. That’s all ifs and buts at this stage, but it’s certainly possible and it would be foolish to write off the favourites in their current form.
Klopp knows his best defence
Another reason behind Liverpool’s early success is their defence. The team struggled for consistency at the back last term and it too much of the campaign to settle the ship. They conceded goals and dropped points in matches they have been winning this season and the improvement is striking. The defence has conceded only three goals in their last five league matches while the attackers have hit 11 at the other end during the same period.
They held firm away to Sheffield United at the end of September and that’s a great example of taking three points from the kind of match they would have likely lost last season. Young Scotsman Andrew Robertson continues to improve week on week, and he is supported by the progressive Joel Matip who is alert and consistent. Klopp, recently celebrating 4 years at the club now knows his best defence and that has been key to turning his boys into serious title contenders.