Liverpool's blistering early season form comes with a two-
word caveat that they are slowly but surely making irrelevant
- namely the phrase "Burnley apart…"
It was that 2-0 loss at Turf Moor in the second game of the
season that sends up the only cloud of doubt about a
Liverpool team that looks intense, aggressive, attractive and a
real threat under manager Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool have gained seven points from three tough away
games against Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea while Saturday's
5-1 win over Hull City made it nine goals at Anfield following
the 4-1 victory against Leicester City.
Klopp can focus on the Premier League without the
distractions of European football and so far the results have
been impressive, with £34m summer signing from
Southampton Sadio Mane giving an extra cutting edge and
Adam Lallana in arguably the best form of his career.
The charismatic German is carrying his players and
Liverpool's fans with him as they start to believe they can
really make an impact this season. Klopp called their beating
of Hull City "world class".
Title talk is wildly premature and an occasionally suspect
defence will face greater tests as Liverpool go deeper into the
season - but Klopp looks like he could easily keep an
emerging side in the top four.
Tottenham have taken a "softly-softly" approach into second
place. They are now one of only two unbeaten teams in the
Premier League, along with leaders Manchester City, after their
2-1 win at Middlesbrough and Everton's loss at Bournemouth.
Mauricio Pochettino's side have been steady rather than
spectacular but have ground out wins at home to Crystal
Palace and Sunderland while winning impressively on the road
against Stoke City and at The Riverside.
The biggest measure of their title aspirations will come when
they face Manchester City at White Hart Lane next weekend -
and also how they cope with injured striker Harry Kane.
Spurs went close to the title last season so there is no reason
to suspect they will not be in the shake-up this term,
especially as they are currently second without hitting top
form.
And now they have a new inspiration in the revitalised Son
Heung-min, the South Korean finally showing his true
capabilities after a transitional season following his £20m
move from Bayer Leverkusen in August 2015 with both goals
at Middlesbrough.
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