Have Liverpool overtaken Arsenal in the title race?

Karan Ahgun

— 4 min read
Have Liverpool overtaken Arsenal in the title race?

Liverpool's excellent start to the season is set to be tested by a trip to the Emirates on Sunday as they play fellow title contenders, Arsenal. Having won all but one of their Premier League matches, Arne Slot's team have put their hat in the ring for this season's title race when many believed that it would be a two-horse race between Arsenal and Manchester City. Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season last week and have injuries and suspensions in key positions ahead of this clash on Sunday. So, will a Liverpool win on Sunday mean that they have overtaken Arsenal in this season's title race?

After Jürgen Klopp's departure at the end of last season, Liverpool's search for a new manager landed them at Arne Slot's door. The Dutchman was seen by the Liverpool football hierarchy as a good fit to step in after Klopp due to elements in their play style, which was backed up my data. And so far, the decision looks to be real gem. Liverpool are more controlled in the way they play. They're no longer a heavy metal team for the whole game, rather they pick there moments on when to up the intensity and have been rewarded by being the best defence in the league so far, conceding on 3 goals. Slot has also rejuvenated the form of Ryan Gravenberch in midfield and there are credible shouts that he has been the player of the season so far. The midfielder's press resistance and game intelligence have been maximised in the system Liverpool are playing and Slot deserves credit for seeing these attributes and highlighting the strengths of Gravenberch in the DM position whilst also hiding some of his weaknesses. This is also impressive given the clamour about Liverpool not signing a defensive midfielder in the summer after they were linked with Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi. In their offensive play, Liverpool have been very clinical in the games they've played. Their controlled build up doesn't give them as many opportunities to play with quick transitions but when they do, they are very effective. Mo Salah and Luis Diaz have been the standout attackers so far this season and Arsenal's fullbacks will have their hands full on Sunday if Liverpool get into a groove.

Arsenal haven't been very fluid in their play this season. They've built a reputation as a team that are defensively solid but this robustness may be detrimental to the team's attacking play. Obviously injuries to Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka will limit the team's creativity, but the way in which Arsenal have been playing in recent games really highlights how influential these two are in terms of creating the majority of Arsenal's chances. Some fans have called for Mikel Arteta to play starlet, Ethan Nwaneri, to get that much needed creative flair in the midfield but so far, he has been reluctant to throw the teenager in. For the Liverpool game this Sunday, Saka is still a doubt so the likely front 3 would be Martinelli - Havertz - Sterling, with Trossard playing in an attacking midfield position. This is far from Arsenal's best attacking set and it will be hard to break Liverpool's imperious defence if they don't click straight away.

Suspensions have also been a big problem for Arsenal this season. Whilst Rice and Trossard's red cards for kicking the ball away were stupid, the referees were well within their rights to produce second yellow cards given the rules in place. Trossard's red card was probably more infuriating for Arteta because Declan Rice had a similar situation. All these red cards have coincided with Arsenal dropping points this season. Saliba's red card against Bournemouth saw Arsenal lose their first game this season and their first away game this calendar year. Arteta remarked in his post-match conference that his team needs to stop getting into situations where they're playing with 10 men because it is clearly costing them points. Whilst it is still early in the season, Arsenal cannot keep dropping points because Liverpool and Man City may just pull away with the form both teams are in.

It will be interesting to see how both teams approach the game on Sunday. With key players doubtful to play, will Arsenal adopt a more conservative approach? Will Liverpool's defence be breached? Both teams will be going into the game with a "must not lose" mentality but a win for either will act as a statement for the victor's chances in the title race this season.

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