Under the radar Liverpool seek to cement top spot

LONDON : Much of the focus in the early weeks of the Premier League season has been on the opening salvos in another title battle between Manchester City and Arsenal.

So much so that Arne Slot's Liverpool have moved to the top of the standings almost under the radar.

With five wins from six matches, 12 goals scored and only two conceded, Liverpool lead champions City and Arsenal by one point and have the chance to bolster their advantage when they travel to struggling Crystal Palace in Saturday's early game.

Victory would give them a four-point lead, albeit probably only until Arsenal host 19th-placed Southampton later and Manchester City host Fulham.

Liverpool's opening fixtures have admittedly been kind with wins against Ipswich Town, Brentford, Manchester United, Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers and they did suffer a surprise home reverse against Nottingham Forest.

Far tougher tests are to come after the international break in the shape of Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion and Aston Villa before a home clash with City at the start of December. But there is a mood of confidence sweeping Anfield, although Slot is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

"Everybody is realistic enough to know that six games into the season doesn't give you a realistic view of the league table," the Dutch coach, the first Liverpool manager to win eight of his first nine games in charge, said.

"It's more at 19 games when you feel where you are. But of course, good results help, especially after bringing in a new manager and a new staff. If we had lost four or five of the first six then life would have been different to how it is now."

The transition from the Juergen Klopp to the Slot era has looked seamless, although with such an