Liverpool vs Man Metropolis: How Arne Slot’s Reds can successfully finish reigning Premier League champions’ title defence earlier than Christmas

Liverpool will likely be licking their lips in anticipation. Luck has befallen them. The Premier League leaders face a Manchester Metropolis facet in freefall on Tremendous Sunday this weekend, with the possibility to successfully finish their rivals’ title defence for good. Christmas has certainly come early.

Sunday will likely be as a lot about Man Metropolis’s demise – ought to they lose – as it will likely be about Liverpool’s possible pursuit of silverware this season, however because the outdated saying goes: ‘You’ll be able to solely play what’s in entrance of you.’

And what awaits Liverpool at Anfield is a shell of facet, scarcely able to disarming Feyenoord, the Eredivisie’s fourth-placed crew, not to mention the Premier League’s frontrunners. Man Metropolis seem to have been purged of their powers, whereas Liverpool make tactical inroads on their very own.

Sunday 1st December 3:30pm


Kick off 4:00pm

This assembly, at this explicit level within the season, is sort of serendipitous for Arne Slot. Hardly ever, if ever, have the circumstances been extra beneficial. Slot’s Liverpool have the potential to profit in probably the most profound of the way on Sunday, stealing a march on Pep Guardiola within the Dutchman’s very first managerial assembly.

How usually do you get the chance to kick Metropolis whereas they’re down? They’re strolling wounded – on a six-game winless run, together with 5 defeats – and if Liverpool take benefit as most count on them to, certainly the title race is all however over? The outlook is as polarising as it has been for years.

“Liverpool have been excellent and have every chance of winning this title,” remarked Roy Keane final weekend. “If they turn up at their very best, with the fans behind them, and beat City – what a statement it would be. It would be over for City if they lose.”

Paul Merson’s view: “The Premier League need Man City to win on Sunday, because otherwise Liverpool are going to spread-eagle. They could run away with this league title very soon.” Opta places Liverpool’s probabilities of lifting the trophy in Could at 74.8 per cent.

And but, they’ve gained simply one in every of their final 9 Premier League video games towards Man Metropolis. This fixture has not been a cheerful looking floor in latest instances, needing to journey again to October 2022 to dig up the final constructive end result – Mohamed Salah predictably scoring the decider in a 1-0 win.

It could shock few if the identical matchwinner resurfaced this time round. In addition to having probably the most objectives and assists mixed within the Premier League this season (16), Salah’s objective involvements have additionally been price a league-high 17 factors to Liverpool this time period.

Placing the ultimate nail in Man Metropolis’s coffin might properly act because the sweetener to the Egyptian’s lobbying for a brand new and improved deal – extra on that later.

Constructive omens are plentiful. Solely as soon as (Manchester United in 1993/94) has a crew had a larger lead on rivals than Liverpool possess proper now after 12 video games. Their haul of 31 factors can solely be equalled or bettered 10 instances in Premier League historical past – eight of these golf equipment had been topped title winners.

It is exhausting to think about a world the place Slot would enable complacency to set in, even with such a big eight-point, which may lengthen to 11-point, hole. This isn’t a supervisor who neglects the basics. He is aware of nothing is gained this facet of Christmas, albeit hope, in Man Metropolis’s case, might be altogether misplaced.

Pragmatic Slot could have a plan for Sunday, and little of it should experience on the notion that the guests to Merseyside will merely roll over. A personality akin to Slot senses the chance but additionally the chance.

He’ll wish to win by design, as a result of groups who go away issues to probability towards Man Metropolis – as downbeat and leggy as they’re – get punished.

Again in 2022, the place Salah settled a fiery and pulsating encounter at Anfield – Jurgen Klopp was really despatched off – it was goalkeeper Alisson who carved the opening with a run-of-the-mill punt downfield. What Salah did with that lengthy kick was nothing in need of sensational, however this was a recreation of frayed tempers and high quality margins. Have been it not for Alisson’s fast pondering or Joao Cancelo’s incapability to defend, the sport may fairly simply have completed 0-0.

This time, Slot will need management and calm heads. Liverpool are able to demand such requirements. They’re succesful, at full throttle, of placing this fragile Man Metropolis facet to process at each ends of the pitch, a lot in the identical approach they scolded Champions League holders Actual Madrid on Wednesday evening to remain excellent in Europe.

One other check handed.

They are saying to be the perfect, you must beat the perfect. Actual and England midfielder Jude Bellingham referred to as Liverpool the “best-performing team in Europe” proper now. He is most likely proper. There exists a fearsome mixture of starpower and firepower on the high finish, a clear and tidy midfield engine who can run but additionally create, and a sturdy backline who not often concede objectives. Deputy goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher even denied Kylian Mbappe from the penalty spot on Wednesday.

All the pieces that may go proper goes proper.

Maybe the one lingering uncertainty issues the frilly recreation of Snog, Marry, Keep away from Liverpool are enjoying with their three finest gamers. Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah’s contracts all expire this summer season, and talks over future offers seem no additional forwards, with recommendations the membership can solely afford to maintain two of three. Slot will likely be hoping none of his prized trio are misplaced, however finally, negotiations will likely be out of his palms.

His affect on the effectivity of this Liverpool facet on the pitch, nevertheless, has been keenly felt. Their solely Premier League defeat this season was a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, having gained seven of their eight video games since then, scoring not less than twice in all however one. Momentum is constructing. A fuse has been lit.

And now comes the fortuity to subject the most important assertion of all. To observe up the beating of the reigning European champions with victory over the six-time (beneath Pep) Premier League champions, all inside a four-day interval, could be one thing to cherish. A memento to treasure.

Liverpool have their probability, they simply need to take it.