Premier League: Early contenders can prove title credentials

Manchester City continue to set their rather breathless pace at the top of the Premier League again this season and have a chance of extending that lead today. If they can win away to Wolves, while two of their nearest challengers, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool face each other with the prospect of one or the other, or both, losing points in the pursuit of the reigning champions.

Straight on from a very credible draw in the white-heat confrontation of the North London derby at the Emirates last Sunday, Spurs are immediately back in the thick of it against another title contender, when they play host to fellow unbeaten side, Liverpool.

Apart from their Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat to Fulham, the Ange Postecoglou rebuilding project at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been running on a rather successful course and well ahead of schedule in the opinion of most observers.

Aussie philosophy

The Aussie, former Celtic boss, was not the favourite choice of many Spurs fans, but he has had immediate success in his term in London. And despite the notable loss of club top-scorer Harry Kane moving to Bayern Munich, Postecoglou has managed to steer a successful route through the early list of fixtures. While doing this, he has managed to get the most out of his new signings as well as established stars in the club.

Postecoglou has quickly imparted his attacking and possession-based style on to the club and it seems to have been adopted quickly by the players.

Son Heung-min looks to have seized the opportunity to step out from the shadow of Kane and has run in the goals already this season. The Korean striker has always been an exciting element of the Spurs attack but looks to be enjoying the process a lot more now and this is paying dividends for the club. Adding the responsibility of being the club captain also looks to have had a favourable effect on the team. Taking Kane’s more central role may be the best thing to happen to him and team.

As for the new guys in the team, the £40 million signing of James Maddison from Leicester raised a few eyebrows about value for money. But the midfielder has looked to immediately pay back the transfer with his performances and will look like a bargain if he continues to maintain this level of effort.

His early goal tally has been welcome, but it’s his assist quota that has really impressed, popping up in so many strategic areas on the pitch to provide the killer-pass.

It seems that he has bought into Postecoglou’s philosophy too saying,

 “If we lose playing his way, that’s on him, his responsibility, and it gives you freedom to go and play as well.” 

Rejuvenated midfield

The North Londoners, this evening, host another side that surprised a few with their immediate success.

Liverpool, after a notable downturn in form last season, went about transforming their midfield due to the departure of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho and the ongoing injury concerns around Thiago Alcantara.

The arrivals of Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, and especially Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, were all seen as good signings, but few would have predicted that they would have settled into their roles so fast. That last season’s mercurial, yet profligate, Darwin Nunez has now started to find the target along with the assurance of having Mohamed Salah up front to accompany him this season has seen the Merseyside outfit start the season a lot better than most predicted.

No doubt, the quality of the ball that Mac Allister and Szoboszlai have provided this year has played into the Uruguayan striker’s form, as illustrated by Nunez’s exquisite, volleyed-finish against West Ham from Mac Allister lovely dinked pass over the Hammers’ defensive line.

Add in Szoboszlai rocket-like shot, as demonstrated against Leicester in the league cup on Wednesday and the added dimensions of Liverpool’s attack has opened up.

Questions still hang over Liverpool’s defensive frailties this season, as indicated by their generous early one-goal start they have given to most teams they have faced so far this season. But they have shown a steely determination to come back for the win in all those games.

Whether Liverpool are back to the level of the team that regularly diced with Man City in the title race over the past decade is yet to be determined. How they compete against this resurgent Tottenham side this evening will provide a big indication to the extent of Liverpool’s rejuvenation.