Treble winners Man City are not the ones leading the charge, but Liverpool followed by Aston Villa, under pressure Arsenal and Ange Postecoglou’s free-flowing, Tottenham Hotspur.
Before Liverpool could extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to three points, Jurgen Klopp sent a clear message about how things can change so quickly in the title race, as he told Sky Sports Premier League on 01/01/24.
The Liverpool boss pointed out that it wasn’t so long ago that ‘Arsenal were running away with it’, but now people will tell you ‘that’s it for them’ because they have suffered consecutive defeats.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have had a festive period to forget, with West Ham United and, most recently Fulham, denting their title hopes.
Then there is Tottenham, who Jurgen Klopp stated were ‘out’, but now they are ‘back in’.
Not forgetting that a certain Kevin de Bruyne returning for Manchester City and surprise packages Aston Villa the nearest challengers and sitting in second place.
“Last week, or it feels like a few hours ago, Arsenal was running away,” said Klopp about the Premier League title race.
“I am pretty sure when you speak about it today you will say ‘that’s it for them’. Tottenham was out, now they are back in.
“When Kevin de Bruyne is warming up, the whole country is starting to shake. I understand all of that, but it has got nothing to do with us. We just want to be as good as possible and I don’t know how good that will be.”
You have to say that the pressure is all on Arsenal here. Yes, fans from either club would want their team to finish top, so they can earn the bragging rights.
But Arsenal are the ones expected to finish higher, and even top, not Spurs.
It needs to be noted that Spurs parted ways with their best-ever player in Harry Kane in the summer. That was a massive hole smacked into the team.
Most clubs would fall over and just roll down the hill, but not Tottenham.
So, if they end up finishing above their neighbours this season, the gap is currently one point, then it won’t make good reading for Arteta at all.
