October 7th 2024.
After securing a win against Crystal Palace, Arne Slot took a moment to acknowledge the passionate Liverpool fans. It was a well-deserved victory, but the question remains: will they be applauding a title win at the end of the season? With only seven games played in the Premier League, the title race has already been realistically narrowed down to three clubs.
Upon reflection, it's interesting to note that one more club has emerged as a leading contender for the title than most fans had anticipated. Liverpool has exceeded expectations and currently sits proudly at the top of the table as the second international break of the season approaches. It's understandable that national team managers want to assemble their squads on a regular basis, and the Nations League is a preferable alternative to meaningless friendlies. However, with three breaks from domestic affairs in just three months, frustration levels are at an all-time high as momentum is lost.
Arne Slot, in particular, must be feeling the strain of losing his star players to international duty and worrying about their potential fatigue or injuries upon their return. After the September break, Liverpool suffered their only defeat of the season against Nottingham Forest in front of their home fans at Anfield. However, it remains their only loss of the season, as they have impressively taken 18 points out of a possible 21.
One possible criticism is that Liverpool has only faced one top-ten club, but the positive spin is that winning titles requires defeating weaker opponents in the division and avoiding losses against top rivals. When they return from the international break, Liverpool will face a tough run of games, including matches against Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, and Aston Villa. However, they also have a potential "gimme" game against Southampton before a highly-anticipated clash with Manchester City, just four days after facing Real Madrid in the Champions League.
These upcoming games will truly test Liverpool's title credentials, and if they come out of them with positive results, their odds of 7/2 to lift the trophy will surely decrease. Currently, Manchester City is the favorite with odds of 7/4, while Arsenal, the ante-post selection, sits at 13/8. Meanwhile, in the Women's T30 World Cup, despite only scoring four runs in the opening match against Sri Lanka, Alyssa Healy remains our top pick to finish the tournament as the top batter. With odds of 5/1 to be Australia's top run scorer against New Zealand, she has a chance to prove her worth.
In the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings continue to dominate with a perfect record after five games. Their recent victory over the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with three interception passes from Aaron Rodgers, only solidifies their status as a top contender. With odds of 14/1 to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy, they are a solid each-way bet, especially since they won't face the Kansas City Chiefs until the Super Bowl. On the other hand, in the world of football, Graeme Souness believes that Real Madrid could make a £150 million bid for Chelsea star Cole Palmer. Additionally, with rumors swirling about Manchester United's next manager, Thomas Tuchel is being linked as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag. Finally, in response to the recent incident involving Conor McGregor punching Bukayo Saka, Arsenal is considering a major rule change to protect their players.
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