Liverpool continued their winning start under new head coach Arne Slot with a 2-0 win over Brentford.
The Reds are one of only four teams with two wins from two matches, along with Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal, while only the Gunners can match their defensive record of zero goals conceded.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Man City
MCI
|
3 | +7 | 9 |
| 2 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
3 | +7 | 9 |
| 3 |
Brighton
BHA
|
3 | +4 | 7 |
| 4 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
3 | +4 | 7 |
Slot is the first Liverpool manager in the Premier League era, and the first overall since Graeme Souness in April 1991, to win his first two league fixtures in charge.
It is also only the sixth time in the Premier League they've opened a season with two wins and two clean sheets, while their 92 per cent pass-completion rate against Brentford was their best passing accuracy in a Premier League game on record since 2003/04.
All the signs are that Slot is the real deal and that Liverpool can challenge for what would be only their second Premier League title. But is it too early to judge?
Starting off at Anfield with a win 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Cof3S5XCOT
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 25, 2024
"It's only two games. Promoted Ipswich and a Brentford side you'd expect them to beat," says Glenn Hoddle, former England player and manager.
"But the pressure's off them. If [Jurgen] Klopp's still manager then the fans and everyone in football expect them to push Arsenal and Man City. With the new manager coming in, the pressure's off them. They can take their time."
Michael Owen, the former Ballon d'Or winner who scored 150 Premier League goals, thinks Slot has started his Liverpool career in a season where it could be the hardest in years to win the title.
"You're going to have to get into the nineties [for points]," Owen said. "There is very little margin of error. You can't slip up.
"I don't think you can lose any games at the start of a season any more. You have to be almost faultless. You can't give anybody a lead. Liverpool have started the season well but Arsenal and Man City have started equally as well. They look at the top of their game. It could be the hardest league to win in a long, long time."
But despite only beating Ipswich and Brentford so far, Owen has been so impressed by the manner of the victories that he is already started to believe Slot can fill the shoes of Jurgen Klopp, the man he replaced as Liverpool manager.
"I've been really impressed with Slot," Owen added. "He looks assured. Two comfortable wins, two clean sheets. I've stopped thinking about it [Klopp leaving] already. I'm calm about it. This guy knows what he's doing."
'Man Utd v Liverpool will be special'
But while it is too early into the season to draw too many conclusions, Owen, and indeed the Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, say Liverpool's trip to Manchester United on Sunday 1 September, could be the first indicator of what Liverpool can accomplish this season.
"The next match is the one," Owen added. "If Liverpool beat Man Utd people will get carried away thinking Slot is exactly what Liverpool need.
"Going to Old Trafford, winning a big-pressure game, against their rivals, people will get excited. If they don't, maybe people will start asking questions, as they've only beaten Ipswich and Brentford so far.
"If they beat Man Utd they've got a good run [of fixtures afterwards]. They could go the first six or seven games and get 18 or 21 points."
Van Dijk says: "It's a good start. We've got to build on it and be ready for a big one next week.
"I remember a game here [at Anfield] we beat them 7-0. We weren't in the best situation. Many thought it could have gone their way. These games are special. It could change a lot."
Slot encouraged by start
Slot says he is happy with Liverpool's start under him but is keen to not get carried away.
"Yes, it is [encouraging]. Two good wins against difficult opponents because Brentford had a very good opening game last week," he said.
"But there is still a lot for us to prove in the season coming up because I said it a few times already, both of the teams, Ipswich and Brentford, deserve our respect for the way they have played against us, but I am not expecting one of the two [to be] in the top six in the upcoming season. So there is still a lot to prove for us. But it is always good to start off with two wins and two clean sheets."
