Arne Slot has said consistency and avoiding injuries will be key to Liverpool’s Premier League title chances.

The Reds aren’t even at the halfway stage of the season but are heavy favorites to claim first place. Sunday’s 5-0 win over West Ham United means Liverpool is eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with a game in hand on the chasing pack.

It’s a situation that was likely beyond Slot’s wildest dreams when he took over the role last summer, but in his first year on Merseyside the Dutchman could equal Jurgen Klopp ’s haul of Premier League winner’s medals.

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Few would bet against Liverpool now, even if history suggests it would be naive for the players to relax. From the six previous occasions the Reds have sat top of the table on New Year’s Day, only once has the team gone on to finish at the top of the pile.

Perhaps it’s not a surprise then that Slot is doing everything to ensure the players’ motivation levels don’t drop.

Asked by Sky Sports after the West Ham game what is needed to win the title, he replied: “Consistency. Enough challenges will come, starting with Man United at home, which is a big game, even if you only look at the league table it's still a big game.

“You also want to keep your leads as long as you can. There are nine games in the month of January, if you include 1st February, which is not January, but you know what I mean.

“You saw again an injury to Joe Gomez,” he added, in reference to the importance of players staying fit. “It's going to take a while before he's back. I don’t know how long but he'll be gone for quite a bit. These situations can happen in a season, a long way to go but a very good first half.”

Liverpool can enjoy a rare week off now before Manchester United comes to Anfield. It’s the one midweek where the team doesn’t have a game in an 11-week period, and will offer the opportunity for some much-needed rest.

After the United game are cup matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Accrington Stanley, before Premier League trips to Nottingham Forest and Brentford.