Arne Slot has consistently emphasized that this moment marks an ideal opportunity to reflect on past performances and, more importantly, to focus on what lies ahead in the race for the Premier League title.
Ahead of Liverpool’s recent trip to Tottenham, Slot reiterated his belief: “As I’ve said for months, judge the table after 19 games when everyone has faced the same opponents.”
He also noted factors like Arsenal’s early-season red cards, which contributed to dropped points, and Liverpool’s own struggles after receiving a red card in their draw with Fulham.
Liverpool currently hold a six-point lead over Arsenal with a game in hand, but recent results demonstrate how quickly circumstances can shift.
Chelsea, for example, went from being potential Christmas leaders to sitting 10 points behind Liverpool after a string of poor results.
In terms of season comparisons, Liverpool have gained five more points than last year from corresponding fixtures, while Arsenal and Manchester City have regressed, with City trailing their previous tally by a staggering 12 points. Despite Chelsea’s improvements, they remain distant contenders.
Liverpool leads the mini-table of results among the traditional “big six” clubs, but City’s task of overcoming a 14-point deficit seems monumental. Chelsea faces equally long odds, given their history of finishing outside the top four last season.
The title race is increasingly shaping up to be a direct contest between Liverpool and Arsenal. However, Liverpool faces a more challenging schedule, with visits to seven of the current top 10 teams, compared to Arsenal’s three.
Past seasons show little difference in corresponding fixture results between Liverpool and Arsenal, though Liverpool’s tendency to drop points in the latter half of campaigns is a concern. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s fixture schedule benefits from their proximity to London clubs, reducing travel fatigue.
Both teams have struggled with defensive consistency due to injuries, yet Arsenal’s starting backline has appeared together more frequently than Liverpool’s. This could provide the Gunners with an edge as the season progresses.
Liverpool’s experience of winning the title may prove valuable, but they’ve faltered in close races before, as have Arsenal in recent seasons.
The Reds face a daunting final stretch with matches against Chelsea, Brighton, Tottenham, and Arsenal. Conversely, Arsenal’s run-in appears more favorable, featuring home games against lower-ranked teams.
While Arsenal might seem slight favorites based on their fixtures, Liverpool’s current points advantage keeps them firmly in contention. The Premier League title race, for now, remains wide open.
