Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards were asked if Liverpool could win the Premier League after their 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace kept them top
Liverpool will go into the second international break of the season sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League. The Reds ensured they remained one point clear of last season’s top two, Manchester City and Arsenal, thanks to a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
A ninth-minute finish from Diogo Jota secured a 1-0 victory at Selhurst Park and ensured that new head coach Arne Slot has taken 18 points from a possible 21 in the top flight and won a club-record nine of his first 10 games in charge in all competitions.
The victory did come at a cost, however. Alisson Becker came off with a fresh hamstring injury that seems set to sideline the goalkeeper for a number of weeks. Slot confirmed that Alexis Mac Allister also picked up a knock. The midfielder, though, did later play down fears that it was serious.
READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk fumes at Liverpool team-mate as backroom coach’s influence crystal clearREAD MORE: ‘High-grade Coldplay football’ – National media react to ‘formidable’ Liverpool win at Crystal Palace
The Reds already had Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott on the sidelines and Slot will be hoping no further problems emerge when the majority of his squad go away with their international teams over the next fortnight.
When Liverpool return to action, at home to improving Chelsea on Sunday, October 20, it kick starts a hectic run of seven matches in 20 days in which they will travel to Arsenal, RB Leipzig and Brighton & Hove Albion and also host Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa across three different competitions.
Richards, who won the title with Man City during his playing days, says he will be only able to judge Slot’s side after their next two Premier League fixtures. But Shearer thinks they will be in the running regardless, although he did add a caveat of his own.
After being asked by host Gary Lineker on Saturday’s edition of Match of the Day if Liverpool could win the title, Shearer was certain in his response.
The Newcastle United legend, who won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, said: “They certainly can, absolutely yeah. They need to stay clear of injuries.
“We’ve seen a couple that they’ve had today, but I think we’ve seen enough already in the first few games to say that they’ll be strong, he’s made a really good start.”
Richards, however, was not as emphatic. He said: “The thing is Chelsea and Arsenal are next, that’s when we are going to judge them.
“But they look good, in a different way to (Jurgen) Klopp. More slower-paced, through the lines, slower build-up and all those sorts of things, but they’re doing well.”
