Arne Slot believes it’s nonetheless too early to guage Liverpool’s title possibilities with greater than half the Premier League season left to play.
The Reds sit high of the pile forward of this weekend’s fixtures and maintain a two-point lead over second-place Chelsea, with a sport in hand over Enzo Maresca’s aspect.
Liverpool have misplaced simply as soon as below Slot since he took over firstly of the season – a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. They’re unbeaten in 11 since then, although have dropped factors of their final two outings.
Victory for Liverpool in opposition to Tottenham will see them high of the Premier League desk at Christmas for the primary time since 2020-21. Nonetheless, they’ve solely received the title in one of many final seven top-flight campaigns through which they’ve been high at Christmas, doing so in 2019-20.
Regardless of their sturdy place, Slot refused to look too far forward.
“Decide the desk after 19 video games [the halfway point] as a result of then everybody has performed the identical opponents,” Slot advised reporters on Friday.
“Most likely we had a little bit of luck. For instance, Arsenal had plenty of purple playing cards to start with of the season. That’s why they dropped factors.
“We now have now obtained a purple card, and we dropped factors. We now have Tottenham away, which Arsenal had firstly of the season; Chelsea already performed there.
“Don’t have a look at it the place you have been within the season, it’s about the place you might be on the finish of the season.”
Heading in the right direction pic.twitter.com/80lka1UVSQ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 20, 2024
Liverpool journey to Spurs on Sunday, having additionally been drawn in opposition to them within the EFL Cup semi-final earlier this week.
Spurs sit tenth within the desk after a season of blended outcomes, with their emphatic 5-0 win over Southampton final weekend approaching the again of a five-game winless streak in all competitions, whereas they’re the second-highest scorers within the league (36) behind Chelsea.
Ange Postecoglou has come below scrutiny this season, however Slot says he’s a giant fan of the Australian, and hopes he can win silverware.
“It’s nice work that Ange is doing. I hope, hope, hope that he [Postecoglou] wins a trophy – not the League Cup, however I’m fully a fan of his staff for the Europa League,” mentioned Slot.
“Folks discuss trophies, trophies, trophies and that’s so necessary. For me, his model of soccer is a lot extra necessary.
“If he can mix it with profitable one thing that may be so good for soccer on the whole as a result of then folks can cease speaking about ‘is it too attacking?’ How on earth are you able to play an excessive amount of attacking soccer?
“I feel it’s a privilege to be a season ticket holder at Tottenham and to be a fan of them for the time being as a result of they play such an ideal type.”
