With Chelsea leading Aston Villa 3-0 on Sunday, Liverpool’s Arne Slot has warned Liverpool on the backs of the Reds heavy loss to Atletico in midweek. While Liverpool got rammed by ripping 2-0 against City at Anfield, Chelsea drugged Villa 3-0, as they are going about claiming a serious battle.
The perfect diplomat, though, was Cole Palmer after Chelsea won, waving away any premature title talk. Enzo Maresca’s shrewd stewardship is building up pace in west London that’s hard to ignore. This was a timely reminder to Slot’s team that it is nothing but consistency—not one half of one momentary, brief burst of brilliance—that wins championships.
Arne Slot:
“I see Arsenal, Chelsea and City as our main competitors this season. We know that if (our standards slip) these three clubs will be there. We have to stay on top of our game, Newcastle have won home vs Chelsea and Arsenal, and drew vs City.”
[@IanDoyleSport]
— The Anfield Talk (@TheAnfieldTalk) December 3, 2024
The Consistency Conundrum
It is vital that we retain our form in games like today, and of course, the season ahead is going to be an incredibly tough one, said Slot.“It’s not about winning once or twice against top teams like City or Madrid,” he added. “It’s all about consistency until the end of the season, keeping players fit, and maintaining energy levels.”
This couldn’t be more timely. Sure, it’s got to be admired that Liverpool hasn’t lost to a top team like City, Arsenal, and Chelsea all season, but it’s their shock loss to Nottingham Forest in September that proves no game in this league can’t be written off. It’s not just his team he is wary of; Slot also accepted that Chelsea, Arsenal, and other big clubs have the power to put together a run of wins as strong as Liverpool’s.
Chelsea: Path to Glory?
Sunday’s emphatic win over Aston Villa showed just how good Chelsea’s Chelsea by Maresca has become, but they are also a team in transition. Chelsea are quietly building momentum thanks to Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling finding their stride and the defense combining a touch under Maresca’s watch. The only way to cement their place is by taking advantage of their next three Premier League outings—against Southampton, Tottenham, Brentford, Everton, Fulham, and Ipswich Town.
But on paper, Southampton, near the foot of the table, should be an easy three points. The Blues might stagger into the final against Spurs, perhaps, but Brentford and Everton have certainly tripped them up in recent years. This run of games is Chelsea’s title test.
Chelsea’s Rise: Slot’s Tactical Tightrope
Slot’s challenge for Liverpool is much more than just trying to maintain their form; it is keeping a thin defensive lineup. “I only had five defenders available,” he said. A reminder of the mounting challenges to come ahead. With cup competitions on top of Premier League schedules, which often come in the form of incessant running, many squads end up unlikely endurance athletes. Even the best of campaigns can go awry due to injury, fatigue, or unexpected loss.
Slot’s emphasis on consistency is resonating back to fans and pundits alike. It isn’t about beating City and Arsenal; it’s about ridding themselves of the midtable and lower tiers of the division with the same ruthlessness. There is no time to look over your shoulder if Liverpool is to stay ahead of those resurgent sides such as Chelsea.
Fans React: The Buzz Across the Fanbase
As usual, football fans have their say, and it’s clear that the belief in a way forward from just three games is growing. Liverpool fans turned their win over City into conquering giants memes, while Chelsea fans countered with uplifting takes on their team’s resurgence. One Chelsea supporter jokes, ‘Southampton better bring tissues; this isn’t going to be pretty.’ Meanwhile, a Liverpool fan had a bit of a laugh [with]: Consistency? Slot has already given us anxiety for Christmas!”
It's always good to be humble eh,
Arne slot the calm chill guy of Liverpool, the man teaching both the teacher(pep Guardiola) and students arteta(arsenal), maresca(Chelsea) how to be on the top and be calm, the new special one of English football#LIVMCI #LFC pic.twitter.com/aC0oCeihsB
— VJ🇳🇬🇬🇧 (@geniusvinze) December 1, 2024
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