Are Liverpool Really Title Contenders?

Image: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/03/23/20/03/anfield-1275557_1280.jpg

We are now over halfway through the 2023/24 English Premier League campaign, with Liverpool currently sitting at the top of the table above Aston Villa in second place and current reigning champions Manchester City in third place.

The question being asked here is; are Liverpool really title contenders this year? Let’s dive straight in to asses and try to answer the burning question - ‘Can Liverpool really win the 2023/24 Premier League title this year?’

Can Liverpool really win the league this year?

To better understand how likely Liverpool’s chances of winning the English Premier League this year are, the best thing to do would be to check the latest online betting odds to see what today’s most trusted online bookmakers are saying.

For example, the Reds are currently the second odds-on favourite team to win the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

Let’s take a closer look at the latest average odds and compare them with some of the other likely contenders for the EPL crown, and include fractional odds format and the implied probability rate of each team winning:

• Team: Manchester City (the current odds-on favourite team to win the league outright). Fractional odds: 4/6. Implied probability rate: 60.00%
• Team: Liverpool (second odds-on favourite). Fractional odds: 11/5. Implied probability rate: 31.30%
• Team: Arsenal. Fractional odds: 7/1. Implied probability rate: 12.50%
• Team: Aston Villa. Fractional odds: 22/1. Implied probability rate: 4.30%

In other words, Liverpool have a really good chance of winning the league this season, but Manchester City are more likely to win. However, odds tend not to take into account quirks of fate, Lady Luck’s intervention and other ‘bumps in the long road’ to the climax of the season in May.

Recent results

Liverpool has had a decent run of results over the past five weeks. They beat Fulham 4-3 at Anfield on December 4 and then beat Sheffield United 2-1 away. Their next Premier League saw them travel away to beat Crystal Palace 2-1.

On December 14, they lost 2-1 away to Union Saint-Gilloise in their final group stage match of the Europa League before returning for Premier League action on December 17 when they drew 0-0 with Manchester United at home.

On December 20, they beat West Ham 5-1 at home in the EFL Cup quarter-final, and then on December 23, they drew 1-1 at home to Arsenal in the Premier League.

On December 26, they beat Burnley 2-0 away, and then on New Year’s Day, they beat Newcastle United 4-2 at home.

Upcoming fixtures

Liverpool’s next game is against Arsenal away in the third round of the FA Cup, and then on January 10, they are at home to Fulham in the first of two legs in the EFL Cup semi-final.

They play Bournemouth away in the Premier League on January 21, and then on January 24, they play the second leg against Fulham away in the EFL Cup semi-final before facing Chelsea in the league at home on January 31, and Arsenal away on February 4.

What does the top of the Premier League table currently look like?

Liverpool are at the top of the league with 45 points after 20 games played. They have won 13, drawn 6, and lost 1, and they have scored 43 (GF) and let in (GA) 18, giving them a +25 goal difference (GD).

Aston Villa are in second place with 42 points. You then have Manchester City in third place with 40 points, Arsenal in fourth place with 40 points, and Tottenham in fifth place with 39 points.

Final thoughts

Mo Salah will be away from Liverpool in January while he plays for Egypt in the AFCON tournament. While Salah is away, his replacement is Darwin Nunez, but he has recently suffered a dip in form and might not be able to fill the void that Salah leaves.

We will just have to wait and see how January goes for Liverpool to get a better picture of their likelihood of winning the league this season.