Premier League title race: Pros and cons – Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City assessed

With the Premier League returning this weekend, Sky Sports assesses the professionals and cons of title challengers Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City…

LIVERPOOL

Sky Sports’ Richard Morgan:

Con: History is towards the Reds

There is a cause Opta’s supercomputer charges Liverpool’s possibilities of retaining their title at simply 7.1 per cent and that’s as a result of solely 4 groups in Premier League historical past having ever managed to claw again a deficit of eight or extra factors at this stage of the season to win the title [although Man Utd have done it four times and Man City twice].

For that to occur, not solely would Arsenal and Man City each have to begin dropping factors, however Liverpool would additionally then must go on the type of lengthy unbeaten run that at the moment seems to be effectively past a facet that has already misplaced 5 league video games this season [only the bottom six have lost more times].

Con: Leaky again line does not instil confidence

Until Arne Slot can repair the evident defensive issues which have blighted his staff all season – the champions have conceded two or extra targets in seven of their 11 video games this marketing campaign, the joint second-worst document within the high flight – then they will neglect about defending their title.

Part of the difficulty is the Reds’ much-changed again line have been struggling to defend set items – and boy do their opponents know this – letting in seven set-play targets up to now this marketing campaign, the second-worst document within the division.

Con: Off-colour stars not performing

Slot mentioned after Liverpool’s latest 3-0 loss at Man City that his facet can not spend time serious about the title race till they’ve fastened the various points which have seen them stoop to eighth within the desk.

However, the Dutchman nonetheless doesn’t appear to know what his greatest XI is, with £116.5m summer time signings Florian Wirtz “mauled” on the Etihad, in keeping with Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, whereas fellow new arrivals Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez each didn’t even make the beginning XI.

And with most of the stars who have been instrumental to Liverpool’s title win final season additionally so badly out of shape – key performers akin to Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah – it’s a stretch to envisage this group of gamers instantly now gelling and rising from their present stoop in time to problem for the title.

Pro: Can the Gunners stand the warmth?

There does, although, stay that nagging feeling that the seemingly impregnable Arsenal machine might falter once more down the closing stretch, as has occurred in latest seasons – Mikel Arteta’s facet blew an eight-point benefit in April 2023 to complete 5 factors behind eventual champions Man City, whereas in addition they held leads up to now two seasons earlier than fading late on.

And let’s not neglect both that we’re nonetheless solely in November, with 27 video games left to play, which is quite a lot of soccer and loads of time for accidents and lack of type to kick in.

Pro: Reds have been there & acquired the T-shirt

Liverpool now have, on paper not less than, a beneficial run of fixtures – they solely face one of many present high 10 earlier than travelling to Arsenal on January 8 – to try to get their stuttering season again on monitor.

And with an virtually fully-fit squad from which to now decide from, together with influential goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who due again after the worldwide break, Slot can strategy this upcoming schedule with the core of the title-winning facet that went unbeaten within the league from September 14 to April 25 final season.

ARSENAL

Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:

Con: Man City lurking

Top of the Premier League with a wholesome cushion on second-placed Manchester City? Arsenal have been right here earlier than. Fans are nonetheless scarred by what occurred subsequent.

Pep Guardiola’s facet have recovered to overtake Arsenal in two of the final three title races. The Gunners have to be ready to face up to one other second half of the season cost from a facet with the one factor Arsenal nonetheless lack: title-winning expertise.

Sunday twenty third November 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm

Pro: Added depth

The greatest cause to consider Arsenal might recover from the road this season is the unimaginable power in depth now obtainable to supervisor Mikel Arteta.

Injuries to key gamers have taken a heavy toll lately on account of a scarcity of high-calibre alternate options. But the squad is now much better geared up to soak up blows.

No Bukayo Saka? Here’s Noni Madueke. No Kai Havertz? Try Viktor Gyokeres. No Martin Odegaard? Use Eberechi Eze. No William Saliba? Cristhian Mosquera can step in.

The added depth has already proved invaluable, with Saka, Havertz, Odegaard, Saliba and others having missed video games and Arsenal nonetheless sitting 4 factors clear on the high.

Pro: The defence

The Premier League’s greatest defence has acquired even higher. Seven of Arsenal’s 11 opponents up to now this season have failed to attain towards them. Three have not even registered a shot on the right track. It is tough to create probabilities towards them not to mention rating them.

The Sunderland recreation was a reminder that they aren’t impregnable however that recreation, by which the Black Cats scored twice from probabilities price solely 0.44 anticipated targets, seems to be like an anomaly. Arsenal have solely conceded twice from open play all season.

Pro: Set-piece dominance

While different sides, together with Liverpool, are scrambling to regulate to the Premier League’s shift in direction of direct play, Arsenal have been well-prepared. They are already into double figures for set-piece targets this season. They excel at defending them too.

Con: Fluidity missing?

Arsenal’s set-piece risk is a big asset however it’s affordable to ask whether or not their present scoring charge is sustainable. And what occurs if not?

Arsenal lack the identical degree of risk normally play, with 12 Premier League sides having scored extra open-play targets than their eight up to now this season. The Gunners nonetheless have work to do to redress the stability and discover extra innovative in open play.

Pro: Right timing?

While Liverpool’s greatest gamers are exhibiting indicators of age and Manchester City are nonetheless in a interval of transition, Arsenal look to be in a title-winning candy spot. The squad is steady, cohesive, and dominated by gamers in or approaching their peak years.

MAN CITY

Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter:

Pro: Fixture favourability

Opta ranks Man City’s subsequent block of fixtures because the third best of any within the division. They face Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham, Sunderland and Crystal Palace of their subsequent 5 matches. Given they’re at the moment the closest challengers to Arsenal – 4 factors adrift – it’s conceivable that the hole will shut throughout that run. Arsenal, in the meantime, land mid-table with regards to upcoming fixture issue. This may be nearly as good a time as any for City to claw again a few of the floor they conceded by shedding two of their opening three fixtures this season. City play first each this weekend and subsequent.

Pro: Scars are fading

Last weekend Pep Guardiola took cost of his a thousandth recreation in administration. If he might have hand-picked the opponent, efficiency, and end result for such a landmark, it is troublesome to think about it might have been a lot completely different to what performed out in a 3-0 win over Liverpool. Pep has repeatedly referred to as Liverpool his best Premier League nemesis. Some may even say that end result eradicated Arne Slot’s facet from this 12 months’s race, albeit not conclusively. What it did do was show City can as soon as once more dominate direct rivals. Scars from final season’s sensational collapse seem like fading.

Pro: Haaland and conspirators

It does not take a genius to work out that having Erling Haaland in your staff makes title success infinitely extra possible. His 14 Premier League targets are virtually twice as many as the subsequent highest scorer (Igor Thiago, eight). His subsequent aim will likely be his a centesimal within the competitors. But this isn’t Haaland FC. The type of Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden are main contributors. When all three are on track they’ve a myriad of the way of injuring you: out extensive, central combos, balls in behind. They can do the lot.

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Saturday twenty second November 5:00pm

Con: Defensively weak

To caveat Man City’s plentiful high quality on the high finish, they continue to be defensively prone. Defences win you leagues, so they are saying, and it is undoubtedly clear that Arsenal’s solidity is way superior to City’s. Landing the shock signing of goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma in the summertime has helped however they must tighten up additional to return out on high throughout a 38-game marketing campaign. They have forgone 5 factors from profitable positions up to now this season – an unsustainable ratio for a title competitor.

Con: Time to gel

While City stay recognisable by way of the backbone of their staff, there are quite a lot of new faces within the wider squad. All maintain promise, however type is sure to fluctuate given few have familiarity with the depth of the league. Tijjani Reijnders has slotted in effectively, whereas Omar Marmoush has proven he has a lot to supply since arriving final January, however it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how they deal with the Christmas interval. Nico Gonzalez has an enormous function to play if Rodri’s recreation time goes to proceed to be curbed.