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It took Liverpool just three games to make it clear that every point their opponents lose will hurt any hope they harbor of taking the Premier League title from Anfield.
Champions Jurgen Klopp have used two of their first three matches to impose their iron will on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal here at Anfield, establishing themselves as the team to beat with the season still in its infancy.
Manchester City are rightly regarded as the team most likely to challenge Liverpool, but old weaknesses and some new ones emerged in their embarrassing 5-2 capitulation at home to Leicester City on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola hopes to have filled the gaps that hurt City so badly in nine league losses last season by adding £ 65m Ruben Dias £ 41m Benfica signing from Bournemouth Nathan Ake at the heart of their defense.
It remains to be seen if Dias is the answer, but there is a vulnerability in City, a sense that can be reached, that simply does not exist in a Liverpool that has psychological and soccer supremacy over its opponents.
When City lagged against the Foxes, they collapsed in a chaotic display. When Liverpool fell behind, they flew towards Arsenal, almost insulted by the perceived slight. It wasn’t long before they were ahead.
Could anyone seriously imagine Liverpool being as vulnerable to pressure on defense as Manchester City were last season and again on Sunday? It is possible but highly unlikely, and practically unthinkable like any kind of regular occurrence.
Liverpool are already challenging their rivals. Can you live with us? Can you afford to drop points? Each point that falls will increase the pressure.
Who can live with them?
Leicester City and a revitalized Everton team under Carlo Ancelotti have looked splendid in these opening matches, but the realism extends to the breaking point to suggest they will keep up with Liverpool; this is not an insult to those two teams that have started so impressively and with such verve, just a statement of fact.
City and Guardiola have a lot at stake in Dias, Chelsea and Manchester United appear to be far from rivals, Spurs are already retreating and Arsenal had the gulf between the sides exposed right in front of them in Monday’s 3-1 win.
Liverpool have had three potentially dangerous opening games. They faced a non-conformist and newly promoted Leeds United on opening day and then met with two clubs they believe live in the same company, in Chelsea and then Arsenal.
The result? Nine points.
There is an irresistible drive in this Liverpool team that demands not only excellence, but also a desire to pursue lost causes and make amends for mistakes.
We saw it at Chelsea when Sadio Mane responded to the loss of possession by furiously chasing goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, forcing him to make a mistake that rewarded the Senegalese forward with a goal.
And we saw it against Arsenal, with Andrew Robertson’s desire to make up for a serious mistake that allowed Alexandre Lacazette to give Arsenal the lead by propelling them forward for a close-range shot to put Liverpool ahead.
It must be emphasized once again that the season has barely started, but it is not an exaggeration to suggest that Liverpool’s potential rivals will be watching their start and having a sinking feeling, even City, which seemed like a team full of problems (not to mention injuries). in that horrible capitulation against Leicester.
What’s more, despite the hints of a low-key summer in the transfer market, Liverpool ran two deals very efficiently to greatly strengthen what was already one of the most powerful squads in European football.
While players like Manchester United fret and flirt on the margins of the market, to the growing frustration of their fans, who are unimpressed by their opening two performances this season, Liverpool made the deal.
Bayern Munich’s coveted Champions League winner Thiago Alcántara arrived to give Liverpool greater control, unpredictability and passing quality in midfield, while a £ 45m surprise play for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Diogo Jota you have already reaped rewards.
Thiago, along with captain Jordan Henderson, was absent here for what was described as “a minor injury problem” but showed what he can bring in 45 minutes at Chelsea.
Here it was Jota’s turn, who made a great 10-minute cameo as a substitute for man of the match Mane.
The 23-year-old Portuguese forward ended a dangerous career by shooting wide, he should have scored with one chance when he hit the side net, and Mohamed Salah ripped off another rather selfishly before finally firing a low shot on Arsenal. goalkeeper Bernd Leno to confirm Liverpool’s victory.
Not bad to start. And in just 10 minutes.
Liverpool moved to second place three games on the season. And even after just those three matches, it’s a brave individual who would bet against them finishing first.
Klopp’s team looks that sinister.
