Liverpool currently find themselves on top of the Premier League table sitting comfortably ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City. It is of course early days in the title race but Jurgen Klopp can be very satisfied with his team’s performances so far.
But while Liverpool have been by far the best team in the Premier League so far this season, that hasn’t stopped others from casting doubts about Klopp’s team.
Among them has been Gary Neville, who was speaking on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s victory over Newcastle on Monday night and revealed he still didn’t think Liverpool was the favourites for the title.
“I don’t know,” Neville said. “They’re performing well at the moment, Van Dijk holds them together. The midfield you’re not quite sure about either. But they’ve got a manager who gets the best out of players and he demands a lot from them.”
After praising the Liverpool team and their work-ethic, Neville then went onto admit he still thinks the club’s rivals, Manchester City, are the favourites to win the title.
“Obviously, City become favourites now. Strong favourite, because of what’s happened in the last few weeks in particular. Because the others dropped points. But Liverpool are in with a chance and I wouldn’t have said that, Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t have said that, at the start of the season that this team would’ve been ready I don’t think.”
Neville is wrong
Neville’s uncertainty and pessimism around Liverpool is completely unfounded. Especially, on the back of a record-breaking performance against Newcastle when the Reds smashed the Premier League xG record amassing 7.58xG.
This is a team that has conceded the fewest goals in the league, has the best goal difference, has won the most games and lost just once (barring that infamous VAR controversy Liverpool may even be unbeaten). By every objective metric Liverpool have been the best team in the league this season, and thus they should be regarded as the favourites.
Pep Guardiola admitted that himself.
After his side defeated Sheffield United last weekend, Guardiola told reporters that Liverpool were the ‘better’ team at the moment.
“We’re not top of the league, Liverpool are better,” Guardiola said as per the BBC.
And so far there is nothing to suggest that the Manchester City boss is wrong.
Right now Liverpool are the best team in the league and if they can continue at this level, they are well on course to lift a second league title under Klopp.
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