Liverpool fans might not thank me for looking ahead to the weekend when there’s a pretty important game still to come this evening.
The Reds will be looking to make it three wins out of three in the Champions League as they take on RB Leipzig later – your eyes can’t help but wander toward Premier League matters on Sunday though.
Arne Slot has not hidden away from the fact that Liverpool’s task is about to get much harder after a near-perfect start to the season. Having seen off Chelsea, an even bigger test awaits at Arsenal – and what an opportunity may have just presented itself to the Reds.
There’s no doubt a trip to north London presents Liverpool with the sternest examination of its title credentials, which have already been written off by some prominent names – not least Gary Neville.
“Would they win the title? I don’t think so,” Neville surmised after watching the Reds move back above Manchester City on Sunday. “What Liverpool is doing defensively at the moment is interesting, interesting. But I’d like to assess it at Christmas. I still think they’re short. I do feel like they are short.”
Neville has also been backing Arsenal to end City’s dominance and claim a first league title since 2004. Ahead of Sunday’s game though, the Gunners find themselves four points behind Liverpool, and they aren’t enjoying the best of preparations.
We already know they will be without Martin Odegaard and the suspended William Saliba. With Bukayo Saka looking increasingly unlikely to feature, Mikel Arteta is staring down the barrel of being without arguably his three most influential players.
Jurrien Timber’s absence doesn’t help matters either, and neither does being without Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney. What’s more, the injury crisis may have just deepened.
Riccardo Calafiori could be the latest name added to the list after being forced off during Tuesday’s game against Shakhtar Donetsk. Having seemingly jarred his knee, the Italian went straight down the tunnel after being substituted, accompanied by a member of Arsenal’s medical team – you certainly can’t paint that in a positive light for Arteta.
Make no mistake, Arsenal will still be Liverpool’s toughest game so far, even if all of the players mentioned miss out. When you see the Gunners having to turn to 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly to replace Calafiori though, you can’t deny that this is turning into an unbelievable opportunity for Slot and his side.
Of course, Liverpool has to come through its own European test first, and Slot will be hoping no more names join Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott on the injury list.
If they return from Germany unscathed though, it looks like they could be presented with a golden opportunity to lay down a real marker in the title race. Perhaps Neville might have to bring his Christmas assessment forward.
