Liverpool have made a strong start to the Premier League season but it isn’t going to get any easier for Arne Slot’s side
Football is a sport riddled with myths, and among the many false truisms is the fixture list. After all, isn’t it just ultimately a case of each team having to play every other opponent both home and away during the course of the campaign?
But, as in so many other aspects of life, timing is often everything. And the order in which those games are scheduled can make a huge difference in terms of forming perceptions and gaining – or, indeed, losing – momentum.
That can be seen from the opening few months of the season for Arne Slot as the new Liverpool coach.
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There is little doubt Slot could have been handed a more difficult opening few weeks to the campaign, with the trip to Manchester United in the third match – in which the Reds sauntered to a 3-0 triumph – the only assignment that beforehand prompted any great trepidation.
The next raft of fixtures, though, were more tricky, with a visit to Arsenal and home games against Chelsea, Brighton and Aston Villa seen as being a barometer of Liverpool’s potential this season.
That they accrued 10 points from 12 to presently stand five points clear of champions Manchester City at the Premier League summit underlines their strong start was no fluke, the 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest still their only reverse.
Compared to the problems that have afflicted both City and Arsenal – who are a whopping nine points off the pace – Liverpool’s progress has thus far been serene.
But the difficultly level ramps up once again between now and the end of the year. Resuming after the international break with a clash at rock-bottom Southampton on Sunday week, Liverpool then entertain City before trips to Newcastle United and Everton. They’ll have also visited Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United by the start of 2025.
If there is anything misleading about the Reds’ advantage at the summit, it’s that they have played one more game at home compared to both City and Arsenal. And their strong away form – seven wins and one draw – will shortly be given a thorough examination: between December 4 and January 18, Liverpool play 11 games in all competitions with a whopping eight on the road.
And it’s during this period the Reds know their lead will be in danger of being seriously threatened. A quirk of the fixture list, and the proliferation of London clubs in the Premier League, mean Arsenal only leave the capital once between now and January 4 for a Champions League game at Sporting Lisbon.
That’s why it would be foolish to write off the Gunners given they have already had to face four of last season’s top eight away from home. Mikel Arteta’s side have proven they can string together a long run of wins.
City, though, have a succession of tough games between now and the New Year. As well as visiting Anfield, they must go to Villa Park while entertaining both Tottenham and neighbours United.
And if Liverpool are to claim a 20th league title, they may need, as in 2019/20, a healthy lead going into the closing months. In their final five games, the Reds entertain Tottenham Hotspur, go to Chelsea and face Arsenal at Anfield before ending with a trip to Brighton and a home game against Crystal Palace.
Both Arsenal and City have it much easier. The former finish with six of their last 10 games scheduled at home with only the game at Liverpool offering any serious fear. And that is replicated by City’s end to the campaign, with their final 11 games seeing them take on only three of last season’s top 10 with two of those fixtures being at home.
“It’s going to be a long season,” says Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister “There are still a lot of games to play. I am happy because we are in a good moment and everybody can see we have a very good team.
“But you know how football works. You have to keep working and keep getting better and that’s what we will try.”
Liverpool know the hard work is only beginning. But the schedule indicates the more points they earn as soon as possible, the better.
