Liverpool still has one major advantage over Arsenal despite double Arne Slot setback

 Both Liverpool and Arsenal can be pleased with how they have started the new Premier League season. For both, the table makes for positive reading.

Liverpool has the most points — 15 from a possible 18 — and has already got tricky fixtures like Arsenal, Newcastle and Everton out of the way. Arsenal, meanwhile, lost to Liverpool but has already faced Manchester City and had its own big moment late on at St James' Park.

Though Manchester City could re-establish itself in the equation, it looks likely that the current top two will finish in those spots in May. The question, if that proves to be true, is which way around.

Liverpool could, in one universe, have established an eight-point lead over Arsenal had it beaten Crystal Palace and then sat back to watch a Newcastle victory. In reality, it suffered the double blow of losing and then watching its closest rival win.

But for all that Arsenal's late goal this weekend felt significant in ensuring neither of the dream outcomes happened — "huge," Gary Neville said, though he is desperate for his prediction on the Gunners becoming champions to finally come true — there are still another 32 games to play.

For Arne Slot, there is still much improvement to be found in all areas, but especially in attack. Florian Wirtz, for instance, the $157 million (£116 million) German, is still getting up to speed.

"When I have the ball, I might be lacking a little bit," Wirtz admitted this week. "That it will simply come step by step, as I play more games, get fitter, be able to do things more easily, and then, when I have the ball, be fit enough and recovered enough to push."

Also on a fitness journey is Alexander Isak, the British record transfer at $169 million (£125 million), who is currently embarking on a mini pre-season after he missed most of the summer.

"Alex did feel his body maybe more than ever before after the 60 minutes he played," Slot said after his appearance against Atletico Madrid. Again, as his match sharpness builds, he will only get better.

For different (and more unknown) reasons, Mohamed Salah was well below par to put it mildly at Selhurst Park and he hasn't played well yet this season. His quality is unquestionable, though, and at some point it seems inevitable that he will click.

Given those three attacking players are still to get going this season — and they have too much quality for that to last forever — Liverpool leading the standings at this stage is in some ways remarkable.

Hugo Ekitike, of course, has been in a good vein of form, his silly red card against Southampton aside, and Cody Gakpo has been solid. The other attackers, though, are the ones with the extra stardust.

If even just one of Wirtz, Isak or Salah finds form, that will take Liverpool — who only Manchester City has scored more than so far in the league — to another level.

Arsenal might argue that Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have been injured this season and there are more gears to move into for them too, but the potential uptick from Liverpool is larger.

Arne Slot's attack being better than Mikel Arteta's made the difference in the 2024/25 campaign. In the 2025/26 season, Liverpool is awaiting a repeat.