I can't see Liverpool slipping up but don't write off Arsenal for Premier League title

Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson believes his old team must now be regarded favourites for the Premier League title - but admits it would be wrong to write off Arsenal and Manchester City. The Reds are five points clear going into the international break having beaten top-four aspirants Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield on Saturday evening.

It came on the same weekend champions City suffered a second successive league reverse - and fourth straight loss in all competitions - with a 2-1 defeat at Brighton while fellow title contenders Arsenal earned only a second point from 12 with a 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

No team in Premier League history has been at least five points clear after 11 games and failed to go on to win the title.

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And asked if he can see Liverpool slipping up over the remainder of the season, Johnson said: “At the moment, I can’t. I’m not saying that they’re going to win every game, but there could be a time when they could afford to lose the odd game if they’ve got a big enough gap over the rest of the other teams competing for the title.

“Against Aston Villa, the most impressive thing was that they were still able to win comfortably despite not playing that well. If you want to be champions, you’ve got to find a way to win games when you’re not playing your best.

"If they’re doing that now, then it’s hard to imagine them slipping up because they’ve clearly got more to offer. They just need to keep their head down and go about their business quietly.”

Of Liverpool being the new favourites for the title, Johnson added: “Yes, as of today and in terms of the gap. It was obviously a huge weekend for Liverpool as all the results went their way. Manchester City have shown that they’re not untouchable, but they’re lucky that those four consecutive defeats haven’t solely happened in the league, otherwise I would have said that the title race is over.

“This weekend saw a big step forward for Liverpool and they’re proving to be the most consistent team in the Premier League.”

Arsenal have struggled for form in recent weeks and are already nine points behind Liverpool in fourth place, albeit having played one more game on the road than the Reds.

And Johnson believes the next seven weeks will be crucial in determining whether the Gunners can realistically challenge the Reds and City for the title.

“I think it’s too early to write anybody off, but they’re going to have to go on a big run now if they’re to crawl it back," he said. "If they come out of the Christmas period still nine points behind, then I’d say they’re out of it. Liverpool would have to lose four or five games realistically for them to do that, which is unlikely.

"Nine points is a huge gap, but Arsenal are capable of going on a winning streak, so you just don’t know what’s going to happen.

“Nobody would have predicted Liverpool to be this far ahead three weeks ago, so that proves how quickly things can change. Arsenal need to find their game and in a few weeks time, if the gap’s still nine points, then I’d say they’re out of the title race.”

And considering City's current travails, Johnson said to BetFred: “The obvious thing is their injuries at present. They’ve lost a lot of players but they do probably have the best squad in world football, so you’d think that they’d cope with that."