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Arsenal and Chelsea are looking to close the gap on Liverpool after a strong start to the season by the Reds.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has set about playing down talk of his side's title chances despite recent hiccups in form by Arsenal and Manchester City. The Reds are already nine points clear at the top of the Premier League at this early stage, having lost just one of their opening 13 fixtures under Arne Slot.
The Gunners are the closest to Liverpool in second place, level on points with third-place Chelsea, who has emerged as potential title challengers under new boss Enzo Maresca. Manchester City languish down in fifth place, 11 points off the leaders, with Brighton on fourth also on 23 points.
Liverpool beat Pep Guardiola's side 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday with their Manchester rivals putting on somewhat of a whimpering performance. Speaking after the game, Van Dijk admitted that the current Reds squad was ready to 'go for war' for one another in fighting talk that could worry the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.
Arne Slot could lead his side to a Premier League title in his first season in charge.Arne Slot could lead his side to a Premier League title in his first season in charge.
Arne Slot could lead his side to a Premier League title in his first season in charge. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
He said: "At the end of the day it is about how much we want it as players. What do you want to achieve as a group? We want to be successful and in order to be successful it is about all the hard work you put in on a daily basis to win games.
"You will have times in games when you will struggle. You don't want to be frustrated, but every time this season we have found an answer to difficult moments, and that's the key to success. So hopefully we can keep that going.
"He [Slot] has come in and done very well so far and he has, in my opinion, inherited a very good squad. Not only as football players but as human beings - guys who will go to war for each other - and I think he has been so far so good."
Liverpool not thinking about Premier League title
Despite the defender's admission over his squad's willingness to fight, the Dutch international refused to accept that his Liverpool side were favourites to lift the trophy. The Reds travel to Newcastle United in midweek before a Merseyside derby on Saturday.
Van Dijk said: "The thing is we are on matchday 13. We want to be consistent, we want to keep winning games and we don't want to have injuries.
"We need everyone to focus on what's ahead of us, but not what's ahead of us in the next month, now Newcastle is the full focus. It feels that we are making good steps. But I want to be there at the end of the season, that's the aim.
"And in order to be there at the end of the season, we have to focus on what's ahead of us, instead of thinking about what's there in January or February.
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