Liverpool need to produce a statement win to cement their place as genuine title challengers to Manchester City and Arsenal despite defeating Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday, according to Reds expert David Lynch.
The Reds emerged as 2-1 victors against Enzo Maresca's Blues at Anfield, with Curtis Jones starring for the hosts in midfield, winning a penalty in the first half before scoring the winner in the 51st minute.
Though Arne Slot's team held on to claim all three points, the visitors proved to be stubborn opposition, managing to accumulate 58% possession and restrict the Dutchman's side to their fewest shots in a Premier League game at Anfield since February 2021.
The result means that Liverpool remain first in the Premier League, one point clear of second-placed Manchester City and four points ahead of Arsenal, but speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch believes that while the win may give confidence to Slot's players, fans are still waiting for a statement performance.
"I think it is maybe too soon just on the basis that maybe not the most convincing performance," Lynch admitted when asked about whether the result cements the Reds as title challengers.
"I thought Liverpool were good and it was a larger kind of even game, but at Anfield, for it to have been a statement performance, you may be looking at something more akin to what we saw last year when these sides met at Anfield and Liverpool kind of thumped Chelsea."
'Bigger tests on the horizon'
Though Liverpool were already first in the Premier League prior to last Sunday, some had dismissed the Merseysiders' early-season showings, arguing that they had not yet faced difficult opposition.
Lynch was pleased that the Reds were able to overcome Maresca's team, noting Chelsea's improvement this season under his management, but the Reds expert insisted that Slot has to resolve some issues before he comes up against even more difficult sides.
"I think there's still those small questions there, but it is a very positive step, and I think Chelsea were much better than maybe a few people expected turning up at Anfield.
"They've taken big steps since last season, clearly, so it was good to see Liverpool come through that sort of test, but I think there are a few more bigger tests on the horizon where we will learn a little bit more about what this side is."
With a match against Arsenal at the Emirates to come on Sunday, fans could soon learn just how good Slot's team are, and whether they are ready to compete for the title.
Mentality boost of Chelsea win
© Imago
While Lynch argued that the victory against Chelsea ultimately revealed little about the credentials of Liverpool, he did suggest that the win could have positive ramifications on the mentality of the players at the club, saying: "[It was] very important to get the win that keeps [Liverpool] top, and I think to create a little bit of a gap to Chelsea is also helpful for Liverpool in terms of [mentality].
"It will maybe convince them that, look, we're a side that's going for the title, [Chelsea are] a side that's going for top four. But yeah, in terms of statement win, maybe we're kind of waiting for that a little bit."
To Slot's credit, his side have already beaten traditional 'big six' sides twice in the Premier League this season, a feat that the team only managed twice in the entirety of last term under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool have also already picked up 21 points in the top flight, four more than they managed at the same stage in 2023-24, and have conceded six fewer goals.
Additionally, results such as their convincing win against Bournemouth on September 21 should not be taken for granted given Mikel Arteta's Arsenal lost 2-0 against the Cherries last Saturday.
If Liverpool can come out of Sunday's fixture against the Gunners with a positive result, then perhaps it would be safe to say that the Reds are in the title race for the long haul.
Lewis Nolan
