Liverpool Play Like Potential Champions in EPL

Liverpool: With the highest expected goals in the English Premier League (EPL) history and the joint-highest shots on goal this season, Liverpool are clicking into gear and developing into serious title challengers.

A busy summer transfer window, where they effectively rebuilt their midfield after the departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, meant manager Jurgen Klopp probably did not expect his side to be top of the EPL table on the opening day of 2024. But, after only one defeat in their opening 20 games, they are.

A 4-2 win over Newcastle in a relentless and chaotic game, amid the wild rain and wind at Anfield, leaves Liverpool with a three-point lead over second-placed Aston Villa, BBC sports reported.

They are five points clear of defending champions Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and Arsenal.

Liverpool now face a run of fixtures without Mohamed Salah, who will go to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.

The final of that competition is on 11 February, so if Egypt go all the way then Salah could miss eight games for Liverpool if they progress in the FA Cup.

That run includes Arsenal in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, and in the EPL on 4 February.

There is also the two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham and league games against Bournemouth, Chelsea and Burnley. Salah is Liverpool’s top scorer with 18 in all competitions this season.

He has also set up eight goals for team-mates. Against Newcastle, despite missing a first-half penalty, he scored twice and passed 150 top-flight goals for Liverpool, with Klopp describing him as a “goalscoring machine”.

There is no doubt Salah will be a huge miss for Klopp’s side, but they have fared well without him in the past.

They are unbeaten in all 10 EPL games in which Salah has not appeared, since he joined in 2017-18.