Liverpool manager Arne Slot has snubbed Arsenal when naming the title contender he fears the most heading into the new Premier League season. The defending champions will get their title defence underway on Friday night as they welcome Bournemouth to Anfield, on what is bound to be an emotional night with reports that Diogo Jota's wife and children will be in attendance.
Slot has made a big splash in the transfer market this summer, recruiting the likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, while the Reds are still linked with a move for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. Yet despite how strong their squad looks on paper, Slot remains wary of one dark horse in particular.
Slot Reveals Chelsea Fear
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Speaking ahead of the opening contest against the Cherries, Slot tipped his proverbial cap to Chelsea and acknowledged them as genuine title contenders this season. The Blues are coming off the back of a successful Club World Cup campaign, and with the likes of Joao Pedro added to the squad, Enzo Maresca's men are being earmarked as a potential threat at the top of the table.
"I expected them to win last season already," Slot told talkSPORT about Chelsea. The amount of quality they have and they were there at the start of the season. They were in [the title race] after ten games. They were still there [in December].
"Squad depth, quality, they have a very good manager as well, and I think they've shown this by winning the trophies they won last season.
"It was good for us that they also had a period last season where they struggled and that's why they couldn't compete till the end for the league title. But now they're strengthening the team again, so a team that's, in my opinion, one of the ones that are going to challenge for a league title."
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Chelsea won one and lost one against Slot and Liverpool last season.
However, Maresca has played down the suggestion and said he wouldn't be distracted by other people's views.
"I don’t pay attention to what the other people say about us. It’s easy to say that more clubs are involved. I don’t like to play this kind of game. I like to be focused on players, try to improve and then they can say what they want."
There does appear to be some belief within the Chelsea camp though, as defender Levi Colwill, who is set for a significant spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ACL injury, said after the CWC triumph that the Blues were now eyeing Premier League glory.