Liverpool's EPL and UCL hopes debated after Reds' perfect weekend

Weekends don't really come much better for Liverpool supporters than the one they've just witnessed.

The Reds came from behind to earn a valuable three points against an impressive Brighton side at Anfield, with defeats for title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal seeing Arne Slot's side move two points ahead at the top of the table. And to sweeten the deal for them, Everton lost as well.

Few predicted such lofty heights for Liverpool just a handful of months into Slot's reign after he replaced Jurgen Klopp, so as the Merseysiders pull clear of the chasing pack domestically and seek to make it four wins out of four in the Champions League we asked the Mirror Football team - can they keep it up?

Mike Walters

If Einstein was right, and insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results, then Liverpool will fall short.

Arne Slot inherited a squad who were in the running for four trophies in April but finished with only one - the lesser-coveted Carabao Cup. So without major additions over the summer, it stands to reason that Slot will run out of gas in the title race like his predecessor Jurgen Klopp... right?

At some point injuries, suspensions and the soap opera of key players' contracts running down may catch up with Slot. But he's done a fantastic job since taking over the Liver bird's torch - and he could still prove to be the greatest successor at Anfield since Bob Paisley followed Bill Shankly into the manager's office 50 years ago.

The title race has already thrown up some unexpected twists, like Bournemouth beating Arsenal and Manchester City in consecutive home games, so it's too early to call Liverpool as champions. And given the way they were dumped out of Europe by Atalanta last season, the Champions League is probably a stretch too far.

John Cross

You only have to look at the Premier League table to realise Liverpool have got every chance of winning the title.

The job Arne Slot is doing is fantastic. He responds to every challenge - like being 1-0 down and being outplayed against Brighton on Saturday - to keep Liverpool on top. They could not get their target of signing a No6 in the summer so what happens? Ryan Gravenberch becomes arguably Liverpool’s best player this season.

There are doubts over Mo Salah ’s future beyond this season. But his social media post after the Brighton game - saying he will never forget what it feels like to score at Anfield - suggests that he wants to go out with a bang. Embrace the positive.

Manchester City are missing Rodri. I never thought Arsenal would win the title and could not quite understand the enthusiasm of some pundits when the window was not good enough. In my mind, Liverpool have got an amazing opportunity. The fixture list was an absolute gift at the start and has allowed them to gain momentum. But we’re way beyond that now.

Nathan Ridley

If not for Barcelona, I'd say Liverpool were the best team in the world on current form. But for all Arne Slot's excellent work on and off the pitch so far, I wouldn't be tipping them to lift either the Premier League or Champions League come May.

Going toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola is like nothing that the Dutchman has experienced before and only Jurgen Klopp, after years of building, has managed to beat Manchester City's boss to the title in the last seven years. As for the Champions League, I don't see Slot being able to outclass Europe's best managers on the big nights.

There's also no hiding the fact that the uncertain futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah will have a huge impact on the mood around Anfield and Slot's squad building. We saw last year that Klopp announcing his departure mid-season didn't do the Reds any favourites in Europe or the title race, so I wouldn't expect any emotional exits to galvanise the squad - although the trio all signing new contracts would certainly be a boost.

What Slot and co. should be confident of winning are the domestic cups. Liverpool are now my favourites to win the Carabao Cup and I wouldn't rule out an FA Cup on top, too. There're still holes in Liverpool's squad and this testing run of fixtures until Christmas looks likely to expose them. Get to 2025 in the same position and form, though, I'll eat my words.

Neil McLeman

It is striking that the title contenders who changed head coach this summer are top of the Premier League - and the two continuity candidates are suffering from a lack of consistency.

Arsenal have gone backwards this season - and are now losing sporting director Edu - while the 115 charges and the future of Pep Guardiola are huge potential disruptions to Manchester City.

Arne Slot has had the unusual privilege of inheriting a good squad not in crisis after Jurgen Klopp. And the Dutchman has shown great intelligence and calmness in introducing his own methods while showing respect to his illustrious predecessor. He has enjoyed a remarkable start but that does not mean he will not soon face his own problems, especially over the future of three of his biggest stars.

Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold - who is linked with Real Madrid every day in the Spanish press - are all out of contract at the end of the season. And the longer the renewal sagas go on, the chances of the players leaving only increases. Imagine entering a title run-in with Salah’s future still undecided.

So yes, Liverpool can win the title - and compete for the Champions League - but a lot can still happen this season.

Chris McKenna

Can Liverpool win the Premier League? Of course. Will they? Let’s see. Liverpool are flying and rightly now being talked about as title contenders as well as candidates to win the Champions League after a perfect start to their European campaign. They have the best defender in the Premier League in Virgil van Dijk, they have one of the best players in Mo Salah and they’ve got talent all over the pitch.

The only doubt this season was could Arne Slot slip in to his new job and improve the Reds with Jurgen Klopp leaving? So far so - very - good. But it is November so there’s a long way to go.

After 10 games last season, Tottenham were top of the table with a two-point lead after winning eight games. Now obviously Liverpool are more serious contenders than Spurs ever were 12 months ago. But that’s just a point to show that a lot can change between now and May.

If Liverpool can keep up their impressive start then they will push Manchester City all the way but we won’t know who the real contenders are until February/March.

In Europe? Of course Liverpool have the quality to go all the way but when the knockout stages roll around then anything can happen.

Daniel Orme

There’s no doubt that not many saw Liverpool starting this well under new boss Arne Slot. Any silverware would represent an excellent season for the Reds so the fact they’re already challenging for the title is a notable achievement. But they’re more than capable of doing more. Liverpool’s squad is blessed with Champions League and Premier League winners.

And some of those might be keen to round off their spells with the club on a high. With Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk all out of contract at the end of the season, they will be very keen to end on a memory.

There will be speed bumps to come for Slot’s Liverpool during the rest of the campaign which might see them fall out of contention for the Premier League crown - opening the door for the relentless winning machine that is Manchester City. But it might be enough to see them claim yet another European crown.

David Anderson

I think we all need to calm down about tipping Liverpool for the title and all of that noise is coming from outside Anfield. Yes, Arsenal have stumbled and have a lot to do to catch the Reds in the Premier League. But Manchester City remain the team to beat and Liverpool are only two points clear of them.

Much has been made of City’s shock loss at Bournemouth - their second in successive games - but it was their first Premier League defeat in 11 months. City need to lose another three or four games to give Liverpool a chance and don’t forget Arne Slot’s side have been much luckier with injuries.

Liverpool have impressed in Europe so far, but Bayer Leverkusen will be the biggest test so far of their Champions League credentials.

They have huge Champions League experience in their ranks and boast several winners in the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. They can go deep to the quarter-finals or semi-finals, but winning it will be extremely difficult with City and Real Madrid in their way.

Mark Jones

It probably doesn't seem so given everything you've just read above, but I don't think enough people are talking about what Arne Slot is doing.

As those who both like and dislike them are acutely aware Liverpool can be an emotional hothouse of a football club, and Jurgen Klopp leaned into that perfectly. But, knowing he needed to be his own man, Slot has taken a lot of that emotion away. That hasn't always gone down well with absolutely everyone, but the calmness with which he is approaching his task is making anything possible.

Yes it's early, yes there are the contract questions - although challenging Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah, at least, to earn their new deals might be a masterstroke - and yes Manchester City and Arsenal won't go away quietly, but this is a staggering start at a time where there really should have been more questions than answers about where the post-Klopp Liverpool are headed.

Premier League titles? Champions League glory? That remains to be seen, but right now it seems very likely that Liverpool will be in the conversation for one or both come April and May, and that alone is worth celebrating.