Liverpool

Arne Slot, the head coach of Liverpool, has downplayed the excitement surrounding the club being labeled as title favorites, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the Premier League and the formidable history of Manchester City in chasing down rivals. Liverpool currently holds a five-point lead over City after a strong start to the season, their best since clinching the title in the 2019-20 campaign. According to Opta, the team has a 60.3% probability of winning the championship this year. However, Slot remains cautious, pointing out that recent seasons have shown that City should never be underestimated. He recalled how Arsenal had an eight-point advantage over City on April 1, 2023, and how Liverpool was three points ahead of them in April of this year, yet both times, Guardiola's side ultimately secured the title. As Liverpool prepares to face Southampton, who are currently at the bottom of the league, Slot is focused on maintaining perspective and not getting swept up in title discussions.

**Liverpool's 2019-20 Premier League Champions vs. Slot's 2024-25 Contenders** As Liverpool sits atop the Premier League table with a five-point lead over a struggling Manchester City and a nine-point cushion over the rest of the competition, their chances of clinching the title stand at 60.3%, according to Opta. Meanwhile, Arne Slot's squad, preparing to face bottom-placed Southampton this Sunday, has accumulated 28 points from their first 11 matches. This performance is notable, as Liverpool has only surpassed this tally once in the last 34 seasons, during their triumphant 2019-20 campaign. In this analysis, we will compare the current Liverpool squad with the team that secured the Premier League title under Jürgen Klopp five years ago.

**Mohamed Salah is Elevating His Game – Liverpool Must Retain Him** Forward Mohamed Salah has once again demonstrated his exceptional talent, becoming the first player in Europe’s top five leagues to achieve double figures for both goals and assists in all competitions this season. Since joining Liverpool in 2017, Salah has consistently been a standout performer, contributing significantly to the team's success both domestically and internationally. His remarkable ability to score and create goals has made him a vital asset for the Reds. In recent discussions about football statistics, it has become almost routine to hear the phrase, “Only Mohamed Salah…” as he continues to set benchmarks in attacking performance. His ongoing improvement and impact on the pitch highlight the importance of keeping him at Liverpool for the foreseeable future.

Everton secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the Women’s Super League, lifting themselves off the bottom of the table. The match was marked by controversy as the hosts were awarded a penalty for a foul on Japan midfielder Honoka Hayashi, which replays indicated occurred outside the penalty area. Katja Snoeijs successfully converted the penalty in the 41st minute, marking Everton's first win of the season amid a challenging campaign plagued by injuries. The decision left Liverpool frustrated, as they struggled to comprehend the awarding of the spot-kick in such contentious circumstances.

**Everton vs. Liverpool, Leicester vs. Manchester United: Women’s Super League Live Updates** Stay tuned for live updates, goals, and news from today's Women’s Super League matches featuring Everton against Liverpool and Leicester taking on Manchester United. **Everton Starting XI:** - Goalkeeper: Brosnan - Defenders: Hayasako, Wheeler, Vanhaevermaet - Midfielders: T. Payne, Lawley, Hope, H. Payne, Finnigan - Forwards: S. Holmsgaard, Snoeijs **Substitutes:** Hobson, Bissell, Ramsey, Foster, Sarri, Settle, Jones, Thomas, Olesen Feel free to share your thoughts or comments via email.

**Match-by-Match: David Coote’s Liverpool Games as Referee and VAR** In light of David Coote's recent suspension following a foul-mouthed tirade against Jürgen Klopp, we take a closer look at every Liverpool match he has officiated. **Liverpool 1-1 Burnley (11 July 2020):** This match marks Coote's debut as a referee for a Liverpool game. During the match, he controversially denied Andy Robertson a penalty in the 83rd minute after a challenge from Jóhann Gudmundsson. Robertson's frustration was palpable, as he was heard clearly voicing his discontent in the empty stadium, calling the decision a disgrace and questioning the referee's competence. After the final whistle, Klopp confronted Coote, expressing his concerns that goalkeeper Alisson had not received adequate protection during the match. Klopp acknowledged the team's anger towards the officiating but also emphasized the need for self-criticism, stating, “We were angry with the referee but we have to criticise ourselves first for not finishing the game.” This draw ultimately dashed Liverpool's hopes of becoming the first top-flight team to achieve a 100% home record since Sunderland in the 1891-92 season. This incident is just one of several matches involving Coote and Liverpool, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of officiating in high-stakes games.

Brighton shocks Manchester City, while Liverpool extends their lead at the top of the table: Football Weekly - podcast Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Seb Hutchinson, and Nick Ames to discuss the weekend's football action. In this episode, the team reflects on Pep Guardiola's unprecedented fourth consecutive defeat as Manchester City fell 2-1 to Brighton. Fabien Hürzeler's tactical changes in the second half proved pivotal, allowing Liverpool to pull five points clear at the top of the league after their match against Aston Villa. The discussion also touches on Aston Villa's set-piece strategy, questioning whether it was a miscalculation or if Austin MacPhee has run out of ideas. Don't forget to rate, review, and share the podcast on various platforms, and join the conversation on social media or via email.

**Premier League: Key Takeaways from the Weekend's Matches** This weekend in the Premier League saw some intriguing storylines unfold, including standout performances from Ipswich's young English talents, Liverpool's continued success, and the impressive display by Brighton's Carlos Baleba. Arsenal managed to break a frustrating streak at Stamford Bridge, scoring their first away goal in the league since September. After struggling to find the net in recent matches against Newcastle and Inter, as well as last month at Bournemouth, Gabriel Martinelli's clever finish brought a sigh of relief. However, manager Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment that his team couldn't secure a victory. Despite controlling much of the game, Arsenal's expected goals (1.27) fell short of Chelsea's (1.69). Key moments, such as Leandro Trossard's late miskick and Kai Havertz's disallowed goal, highlighted their ongoing struggle to be clinical in front of goal. With Martin Ødegaard back in form, the Gunners are still searching for that elusive penalty box finisher. In other matches, Liverpool continued their strong form with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, while Brighton pulled off a notable 2-1 win against Manchester City, showcasing the talent of Carlos Baleba. Manchester United secured a convincing 3-0 win against Leicester, and Newcastle triumphed 3-1 over Nottingham Forest. Ipswich made headlines with a surprising 2-1 victory against Tottenham, further emphasizing the emergence of their young English duo. Brentford edged out Bournemouth in a thrilling 3-2 encounter. As the season progresses, these matches have set the stage for an exciting battle for supremacy in the Premier League.

Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the Women’s Super League season with an impressive 3-0 victory over Liverpool, marking their sixth consecutive win. Under the management of Sonia Bompastor, the defending champions have achieved their best-ever start, showcasing their dominance in the league. Bompastor made history by becoming the first manager to win their first four away matches in WSL history, with Chelsea also securing victories against Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and Everton. The team has now won all eight of their matches across all competitions, solidifying their status as a formidable force in women's football.

Liverpool is set to face Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, with the match kicking off at 12:30 PM GMT in St Helens. **Liverpool Starting XI:** - Rachael Laws - Jenna Clark - Gemma Bonner - Gemma Evans - Taylor Hinds (C) - Grace Fisk - Jasmine Matthews - Ceri Holland - Marie Höbinger - Olivia Smith - Leanne Kiernan **Chelsea Starting XI:** - Hannah Hampton - Lucy Bronze - Millie Bright (C) - Kadeisha Buchanan - Sandy Baltimore - Sjoeke Nüsken - Erin Cuthbert - Guro Reiten - Maika Hamano - Johanna Rytting Kaneryd - Mayra Ramírez Stay tuned for live updates on the match!