Six points separate Liverpool and Arsenal but Arne Slot’s team have a game in hand after enjoying a strong start to the season that has seen them lose just once in 18 matches
Six points separate Liverpool and Arsenal but Arne Slot’s team have a game in hand after enjoying a strong start to the season that has seen them lose just once in 18 matches Six points separate Liverpool and Arsenal but Arne Slot’s team have a game in hand after enjoying a strong start to the season that has seen them lose just once in 18 matches
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been warned that the Reds will eventually suffer a dip in form in the Premier League.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank believes Slot’s assessment that Liverpool have yet to win anything is correct, such is Arsenal’s form this season. The Gunners sit six points behind their Premier League rivals having played a game more but Frank reckons the north London side have shown qualities that will see them test Liverpool before the season is over.
Mikel Arteta’s team came from behind to dispatch Brentford 3-1 on New Year’s Day. Bryan Mbeumo handed the Bees the lead before goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Jesus saw Arsenal claim three points.
Frank believes the title race will go until the end of the season. The Danish coach reckons Arsenal’s ability to pick up points when not at their best stands them in good stead.
“It’s a long season,” Frank told Sky Sports. “I understand why Arne Slot is saying, ‘We haven’t won anything yet’. Liverpool haven’t had a dip yet and that will most likely come, and Arsenal are picking up points when they’re not fully firing. It will go right to the end.”
“You need to play a perfect game against Arsenal,” added Frank. “One of the two best teams in the league, probably in the world. I thought actually we were close to perfect in the first half, I loved the way we played.
“I’m pleased with the performance, especially the first half, and also I thought the second half was not too bad – we just conceded two goals.
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“I think the overall performance was good, maybe very good, but the big moments we didn’t take them well enough today – especially the three defensive moments.”
Ahead of the game against Brentford, Arsenal boss Arteta was adamant that his side will be in contention to capitalise if and when Liverpool slip up.
Arteta said: “We have to continue to be like a hammer, be there every day, every day, and if someone wins all the matches then congratulate them and then go to the next season. But if they don’t – which in history it hasn’t happened – then we will be there.
“It doesn’t depend on us. But we will have full focus on Brentford because our minds have to be on what we have to do. We have to recover because not just now but also in the next few weeks, we have so many games, so many competitions and we need to be right up there.”
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