Liverpool enter the first international break of the new Premier League season, having enjoyed a massive double boost in their attempt to retain their title.
The 1-0 victory against Arsenal, thanks to a sensational 30-yard free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai in front of a rapturous Kop, means the Reds have made a perfect to the season, taking all nine points in offer.
They haven’t played their best football so far, needing to knuckle down and battle for full points against underrated Bournemouth before the gripping last-gasp 3-2 success at Newcastle and now this triumph against Mikel Arteta’s side.
But with the lengthy transfer saga involving Alexander Isak finally being resolved with a £125million bid for the Sweden striker being accepted by the Magpies, it makes the Anfield club very much the team to beat.
The Gunners will be contenders once again but must show more ambition given the riches they have spent on attacking options during the summer as they appeared to be content with another draw against their rival championship challengers at Anfield.
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If they are to finally finish the season on top of the heap after three times finishing second in the table, they must be more adventurous against their main opponents or Arteta will be increasingly feeling the heat.
Chelsea have started well with three straight wins, although they have ridden their luck and are also yet to really hit top form, but Manchester City look out of sorts in the early stages having suffered successive defeats to Tottenham and Brighton.
Looking at the table will make for uncomfortable reading for them over the next couple of weeks as they are below neighbours Manchester United, who are still stumbling to find an identity under Ruben Amorim despite the 3-2 win at home to Burnley on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s men are 7/1 with several firms, including bet365 and Betfred, to regain the crown they handed to Liverpool last year making Chelsea look big at 8/1 with Paddy Power, bet365 and Betfair to win their first title in nine years.
Arsenal are 15/8 with Ladbrokes, Coral and others to win their first championship in 22 years but with the likes of Florian Wirtz only going to get better as they adapt to the demands of English football, the Reds are the ones to back at 6/4 with Betway.
Isak can win the Golden Boot
Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool means he will be supplied with all the chances he needs to score more than 20 Premier League goals for the third consecutive season. He found the net 22 times last term and on 21 occasions the year before that and can hit even more this time around.
Mohamed Salah won last season’s Golden Boot but is off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt in December, leaving Isak in prime position to be top marksman at 14/1 with Ladbrokes, Coral and BoyleSports.
Odds to finish in the bottom half
Aston Villa have made a slow start to the season and have been forced to sell some of their better players to meet financial requirements.
Manager Unai Emery loves the Europa League and may prioritise that by going all out to win the trophy, leaving Villa to suffer a down year in the Premier League and it’s not difficult to find ten teams who could enjoy better seasons.
Villa will probably wind up no lower than 11th or 12th but that is enough for them to be no better than 4/5 with William Hill to finish in the bottom half.