With four weeks of the new Premier League season in the history books, it is perhaps too early to make any sweeping conclusions. Then again, if we were, it would be a conclusion regarding the defending champions Liverpool.
Going into the start of the new fixture schedule, Liverpool found themselves as second favourites behind Manchester City and with the latter already suffering their first defeat of the season, it seems as if the bookmakers have now had a change of heart.
The Merseyside outfit are now the team with the shortest Premier League price in the outright market at +225 and if you’ve looking to back them, you can bet $100 and win $225 and if you choose a good welcome bonus you have the possibility to win even more.
While if Jurgen Klopp’s men can win back to back titles, it would make a mockery of a certain notion and one that suggests, that it is difficult to win the Premier League crown and even tougher to defend it.
When it comes to the subject of tough, it did look as if Liverpool would have two stern tests at the start of their campaign, as Chelsea and Arsenal were lined up in weeks two and three of this season respectively.
If big spending Chelsea were meant to show their own title credentials, they did an extremely poor job of it and with maligned goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga serving up another goal on a plate, Liverpool would eventually run out comfortable winners.
Admittedly the test against Arsenal was a little more difficult to pass, as the Gunners took the lead and although that would have provided cheer to Mikel Arteta, one must remember that nobody gets out of Anfield alive.
That third successive win means that Liverpool are one of three teams with a perfect record after as many weeks and even though they are having to currently mix it with both Leicester and Everton, it is their “big six” rivals where context can be found.
Because compared to the other five members of such an elite members club, Liverpool are the only team that have not dropped any points and because of this, they have laid down an early title winning marker.
Of course, it is too soon to proclaim Liverpool as the champions as waiting and no team can win the Premier League at such an early stage of proceedings. With that said, the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, are certainly showing no signs of regression.
The front three against Arsenal in the league👇
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) September 28, 2020
Mane ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Salah ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Firmino ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/lNtmrb1IdM
Regression that may have been slightly expected when you consider Liverpool’s last two seasons and the effort that was squeezed out of the players, as they conquered both continental and domestic fronts.
Thankfully for those who support the club, it has been a case of as you were and if the attack can be considered a fearsome trio, then the addition of Diogo Jota may well be suggest the arrival of the “fourth Beatle”
The capture of Jota from Wolves in September is one that perhaps caught the footballing press unaware and even though the transfer from Wolves constituted something of a surprise, the Portuguese forward has already made an immediate impact.
The arrival of Jota will offer manager Jurgen Klopp the perfect opportunity to rest and rotate his forward line where required and in addition to this, the 23-year-old can also be called upon from the substitutes bench.
Which was the exact role he filled against Arsenal and in doing so, managed to score the third and final Liverpool goal, as they eventually edged to a 3-1 win over the Gunners and moved joint top of the table.
Whether the club can perform the same level of blitzkrieg as they did last season is up for debate, but there is no doubt that they will be championship challengers this time around and with Manchester City already missing key players, now could be time to extend their advantage.
Manchester City have Sergio Aguero out injured for the next couple of months and with Gabriel Jesus struggling to be the heir apparent at the Etihad, there is every chance that the 2018/19 Premier League winners may not fire on all cylinders.
Which means Liverpool now have the perfect opportunity in which to turn the screw and if they do tighten it further, then they will continue to be the team to hunt down. Which means, the more things change, the more things will stay the same as far as English football is concerned.
