As the home crowd erupted into chants of “are you watching Arsenal?” a sense of restraint soon followed, with many supporters eager not to get swept away by the excitement of the ongoing title race. It’s a long journey, full of twists and turns, and caution seems wise.

While Mikel Arteta and his team might have watched Manchester City with a sense of unease, they could have felt a bit more confident observing Liverpool’s performance. It seems Arne Slot’s squad is struggling to keep up with the pace, offering little threat to the reigning champions.

The defeat suffered by Slot’s team was more than just a minor setback; it was a comprehensive dismantling at the hands of Pep Guardiola, Slot’s admired counterpart. Unlike typical narrow losses experienced during the Dutchman’s tenure, this was a clear outclassing on the pitch.

Based on their performance in the first 11 league games, it appears they may lag significantly behind both Arteta’s and Guardiola’s teams by the season’s end. Continuing in this manner, their hopes of retaining the title seem increasingly distant.

Analyzing this team presents a challenge due to their unpredictable nature. Their stunning victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday night, where they made the 15-time European champions look ordinary, is a testament to their potential.

Liverpool will not even get close to defending their crown if they play like they did against Manchester City

Liverpool are already eight points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal – it is hard to analyse this team because of we know what they can do

Last season, they demonstrated their ability to challenge top teams, defeating Guardiola’s side twice and only getting knocked out of the Champions League by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout. This history makes their current form all the more perplexing.

After spending £446million, they were meant to get better. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, the list goes on, had overhauled the squad. The roof had been fixed while the sun was shining rather than on a rainy day – but clearly there were some holes. Liverpool have been leaking goals in the last six weeks. 

Either side of rock-solid displays against Aston Villa and Real Madrid they have conceded three here, three at Brentford, two against Manchester United, two at Chelsea and Crystal Palace. They have let in 26 goals after 18 games this season in all competitions. At the same stage of last term, that stood at just 11. 

Led by the aura of Virgil van Dijk, the Reds barely allowed chances against them… now opposition players fancy their chances. While Vinicius Junior got no change from an imperious Conor Bradley on Tuesday, winger Jeremy Doku robbed the right back blind time and again. 

The best night of Bradley’s career on Tuesday was backed up by one that will leave him having nightmares of the tricky Belgian. It is harsh to single him out for criticism – no Liverpool player deserved much credit. 

Ibrahima Konate and many others are great on their day but when it rains, it pours for some of Slot’s squad. 

‘It is too many (losses),’ said Slot – and he is right. This is their seventh defeat in 10 games, five in six league games. Doku’s strike rubbed further salt in the wounds as it meant Liverpool had fallen below Manchester United on goal difference. 

Imagine telling someone that after five games, when Liverpool had a 100 per cent record and pundits were calling for Ruben Amorim’s head. 

The Red barely allowed chances against them last season – now opposition players fancy their chances

Slot has taken a number of lessons from Pep Guardiola (left) in his coaching career, and the next should be how to rise again

Similar of Guardiola after a tricky start for City but here he showed why he is the greatest manager of his generation. 

Slot has taken a lot of lessons from the Catalan in his coaching journey and the next one should be how to rise again after a fallow period. 

City are back to their best after last year’s slump but it got worse before it got better again. Maybe the same will follow for Slot and Co. 

The fixture list has been harsh on Liverpool and it is much kinder this side of New Year, with six of their next eight against bottom-half opposition. 

There is a long road ahead but Slot must get the champions out of reverse and put his foot on the gas if he wants to catch Arsenal and City.