Liverpool snub from title race talks should be fuel for Arne Slot in bid to end Man City dominance

We are just two months into the new Premier League season, but already is proving a dominant topic.

As always is the name on the end of most people's lips, and for good reason. You would be a fool to write off team's chances, with his squad the dominant force in modern English football. City have won six of the last seven titles, having become the first team in history to win four titles on the bounce in May.

This again makes them favourites with most this campaign, but the rise of over the past two years has seen the Gunners re-enter the title race after some time away.

And rightly so too, having taken City down to the wire in the past two seasons before eventually falling just short on both occasions. For many the title chat stops there, but there is one clear omission that keeps being missed, and that is Liverpool.

An average 2022/23 season that saw team finish outside the Champions League places in fifth led to them being replaced by Arsenal as City's title contenders, and this appeared to continue into the last campaign. Cast your mind back to last season, and it was a race between the Gunners and the Blues, somewhat predictably won by the latter.

It is very easy to forget though that Liverpool found themselves right in the mix - and for some time the team to catch - in what was a three-way race for the title for the majority of the year. With less then eight games left to play the Reds were sitting pretty on top and on course to sign of Jurgen Klopp's reign in style.

Even with four games left on the calendar, Liverpool found themselves just three points off the top but saw their fate sealed at Goodison Park thanks to a 2-0 defeat to Everton, before Klopp's time at Anfield eventually came to an end with a third-place finish. He has of course since been replaced by and on the back of the appointment the consensus with most appeared to be calls for patience, with Liverpool fans limiting their expectations for the current season with a new man in the dugout.

Of course Slot deserved time to bed in, which will have played a part in playing down Liverpool's title chances in pre-season. Seven games in however, Liverpool are back on top, taking 18 points from 21 on offer, with Slot's men winning six of their first seven outings in an impressive start.

This by no means gives Liverpool the right to parade around as soon-to-be crowned champions, but it does prove Slot's squad are ready to compete with Guardiola and Arteta for the title. The hot start has of course been played down by sceptics, who will no doubt believe Slot's Premier League wake-up call will be right around the corner.

This constant playing down however should put fire in the belly of the Dutch manager and his players too. Whilst Klopp has departed, a whole host of players who went toe-to-toe with - and toppled - this dominant City side still remain at Anfield, and that experience will prove key over the campaign.

Yes, Arteta's Arsenal have been as good as anyone over the past two-and-a-bit seasons, but for all their impressive football and 'feel-good-factor' in the dressing room they are still yet to tame the beast built by Guardiola, unlike Mohamed Salah and co. Who knows, Slot's camp may well be happy going under the title race radar, but if they are they should make sure they use this to their advantage come the business end of the season.