Sunday 2 October 2016 12:44, UK
Liverpool are genuine title contenders thanks to the influence of Jurgen Klopp, the Sunday Supplement panel believes.
The Reds went second in the table behind Manchester City with a 2-1 win over Swansea on Saturday and have lost just once in the league so far this season.
Stunning victories against Arsenal and Chelsea led many to believe they could finish in the top four but the Sunday Supplement panel believes they could mount a serious title challenge.
Speaking on Sky Sports 1, Telegraph chief football writer Jason Burt predicted Liverpool would build on their impressive start.
"I think what will be interesting this season is if they can sustain this," Burt said. "They’ve got the advantage of not European football. You play this style of football, it is hard to keep going throughout the whole season, especially in the Premier League, like that. We saw that with Tottenham Hotspur as well last season.
"What he [Klopp] has done is he’s got a bigger squad there now. Suddenly he’s got a lot more options in attack he can rotate it and rest players.
"That’s the advantage he’s got. I thought they would start the season strongly even though they had that run of away games. I still thought with his preparation with the fitness of the players with the way they go at it I thought they would be in the top four quite early on in the season.
"I think the big question is if they can sustain that over the course of the campaign. And because no there is no European football and because of the size of the squad I think it is quite likely."
Liverpool finished eighth in Klopp's first season at Anfield but after his first summer transfer window at the club the German has added his own signings to the squad.
The Mirror's John Cross said the combination of Klopp in charge and more time to prepare for matches meant they could go one better than they did under Brendan Rodgers.
"I tipped them for top four at the start of the season and I think they can go beyond that. I genuinely think they are title contenders largely because of not having the added distraction of European football but I think even more so because I think they have a wonderful manager, a great motivator as much as a tactician."
Rob Draper of the Mail on Sunday added that momentum was with Liverpool heading into the international break.
"Right now for Liverpool he [Klopp] is obviously a great fit. He has huge charisma but ultimately it is down to your players, how good are your players? Are they fourth or fifth best squad in the Premier League? They probably are round there.
"The question is does Klopp’s charisma get you up to third, second, maybe even first. I don’t think that is likely but that's what it looks like he is doing at the moment. He’s part of the momentum."
