Don Goodman shares new Liverpool title verdict after transfer disappointment
Don Goodman believes Arsenal and Manchester City will be wary of Liverpool this season despite a quiet transfer window.
The Reds failed to convince Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi to move to Merseyside but moved to add Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili to their ranks in the final days of the summer window, with the latter returning to Valencia for the season.
Arne Slot has impressed at the start of the season as he won his first three matches, including a 3-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford, but he suffered his first setback in a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday [14 September].
While there was an air of uncertainty around Anfield after the departure of Jurgen Klopp, the Reds look the real deal under Slot and Goodman thinks Man City and Arsenal will have one eye on Merseyside in the title race this season.
“I think they’ll be disappointed they didn’t recruit a holding midfielder. That is what they were after and what they thought they had in Zubimendi. That’s the only disappointment, though, because they have the basis there already of a really strong squad,” he exclusively told Liverpool News.
“The only other uncertainty was Arne Slot coming in from Feyenoord. I was told by a friend of mine, John de Wolf, Slot’s former assistant, and he told me to watch out for Slot as he’s the best coach he’s ever seen. I’m not saying he’s the best coach I’ve ever seen, but I took from that that De Wolf was very confident Slot would have an immediate impact in the Premier League.
“Judging on the first few games – a tiny sample size – I don’t think Manchester City or Arsenal will dismiss Liverpool in the title race.”
Arne Slot can make Liverpool immediate title contenders
Liverpool supporters inside Anfield last weekend will have been shocked to see their side lose to Nottingham Forest after an incredible start to the season.
It was a match where Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz all suffered a bad day at the office but there is no cause to raise the alarms just yet.
Slot was bound to suffer setbacks in his maiden campaign at the Reds, and while facing a team like Forest at home should always result in three points, there is still plenty to be optimistic about the Dutchman’s prospects this season.
The Reds host Bournemouth on Saturday [21 September] aiming to recover from the disappointment against Forest and have a favourable run of fixtures ahead, with their next big test coming away to Arsenal at the end of October.
With the return of the Champions League and Carabao Cup ahead, Liverpool are set for a busy period before the next international break.
There will be more setbacks along the way this season. The supporters must trust the process and not let the loss against Forest derail their hopes for a successful season.
In other Liverpool news, a Federico Chiesa injury claim has emerged ahead of Liverpool v AC Milan.
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