Replacing Jurgen Klopp was meant to be difficult. Some even believed it would impossible. Only a few months on from the legendary German’s departure from Anfield, though, Liverpool are sitting at the top of the Premier League table under Arne Slot. They might also be favourites to win this season’s Champions League.
Slot couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to life on Merseyside. Every area of Liverpool’s team is functioning well. The Reds boast the strongest defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just eight goals in 12 games, and also the most prolific attack, netting an impressive 24 times.
Much was made of Liverpool’s refusal to enter the summer transfer window in a meaningful way. Martin Zubimendi was identified as the club’s top target only for the central midfielder to remain at Real Sociedad. Anthony Gordon was another player linked with Liverpool, but he too stayed at his current club.
At the time, many believed Liverpool required new signings to give Slot a chance of imposing his own ideas on the team following his arrival from Feyenoord in the summer. As it has turned out, the Dutch coach had everything he needed to point the Reds towards the top of the English and European game.
Liverpool’s success is all the more startling because it has come against a backdrop of rivals faltering all around them. Manchester City have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions with Arsenal also struggling in the first half of the season amid injuries to key players like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
“We know what we have to put into it to get this league and these wins,” said Slot about Liverpool’s title chances. “There were one or two games that were won by a big margin but the rest were all by small margins. We know how difficult it is to win a game and these players have been in the Premier League longer than I have been.
“I think last year [2022-23], even later on in the season, Arsenal led by eight points and City came back. You know if you face Arsenal, City, Chelsea, Tottenham were great [in defeating City 4-0] as well, they are all able to win so many games in a row. It is nice to have this position but we are definitely not getting carried away.”
In the Champions League, Real Madrid have looked like a shadow of the team that went the distance in Europe last season. Carlo Ancelotti’s team are missing Toni Kroos’ influence in central midfield with Kylian Mbappe still being integrated into Los Blancos’ forward line. They have issues to address, but Wednesday night’s tilt against Liverpool will be the truest test of The Reds’ favorite status yet.
Other perennial front-runners have also run hot and cold this season. Paris Saint-Germain lack the attacking talent to win the Champions League this season while Bayern Munich have deficiencies in defensive transition that could make them vulnerable against the strongest opponents. The Bavarians came out the 1-0 victors after a careless tackle by Ousmane Dembélé left PSG short-handed for much of the second half.
Barcelona have made real progress under Hansi Flick this season with the Catalans top of La Liga. Lamine Yamal is a generational talent and can win a match on his own with Robert Lewandowski back to his goalscoring best and Raphinha enjoying a remarkable turnaround in his fortunes at the club.
Inter have won four of their five Champions League games this season and have yet to concede a goal in the competition. Simone Inzaghi has already led the Nerazzurri to a Champions League final once before and the San Siro outfit might be even stronger now than they were two seasons ago. They sit atop the table ahead of Liverpool’s match on Wednesday, but it may be short-lived.
The Champions League looks to be more open this season than it has been in a number of years and this could benefit Liverpool. This week’s match against Real Madrid will be a gauge of where Slot’s team are at this moment in time with Sunday’s clash with Manchester City another test for for the Merseyside outfit.
Liverpool’s history in European soccer is strong. They have won the Champions League/European Cup six times with Real Madrid and AC Milan the only teams to have won the competition more times. The way this season is panning out, Liverpool could raise their tally to six as the best team on the continent.
