The year of 2025 is ushered in at Liverpool with Arne Slot and his players looking ahead to a raft of exciting possibilities for the second half of a campaign that has already had enough memorable moments to make it an outstanding one. But convincing victories over the likes of Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen or Real Madrid and Manchester City will feel hollow on the end-of-season review shows if the Reds take their foot off the gas too much now.

Somewhat unexpectedly, a major opportunity to secure a 20th league championship has emerged in recent months and while a lot of that has centred around a remarkably sharp decline in Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, Slot's side have still made sure they have taken full advantage of the shocking and dramatic drop-off from the champions to ride into the New Year as runaway Premier League leaders.

Twenty-three wins from 27 games in charge means Liverpool are well positioned at the midway point and, while it has been an incredible start to life for new head coach Slot, a start is all it remains. There is much work to be done but the squad have positioned themselves so advantageously as the second half of the season begins on Sunday at Anfield against Manchester United.

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Since the Reds' most fierce rivals last won at Anfield - back in January of 2016 - the nine games have seen five wins and 18 goals scored to the one conceded, which was a Jesse Lingard consolation in a 3-1 win for Jurgen Klopp's team in December 2018.

"I think it's quite clear now that Arsenal are the only team who can stop Liverpool," says Gary Neville. "Watching on my iPad, the Liverpool game (5-0 win over West Ham United) and they don't have to be playing well.

"I said it a few weeks ago that they don't have to be playing well but they've got a real devastating frontline and ability to be able to [score]. (Mohamed) Salah is just unbelievable, by the way. They were absolutely brilliant. I've always liked (Luis) Diaz, the improvement in (Cody) Gakpo has been enormous and Salah is just world class. He's the best player in the league."

Neville's claim, unlike his pre-season assertion that 14th-place United would finish above Liverpool, is not without foundation. Salah's 37 goal involvements at this stage marks him out as the outstanding footballer in the country and only Cristiano Ronaldo, at Real Madrid in 2014-15 and, Lionel Messi for Barcelona in 2010-11, have more contributions than the Egyptian's league tally of 30 (17 goals, 13 assists) at the halfway point of a campaign of Europe's top-five leagues in the last decade or so.

Salah, in fact, has the best minutes-per-goal-involvement across the top five European leagues at 64, nine quicker than the next best on the list in Bayern Munich's Harry Kane and 17 ahead of Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid in third.

As a result of such blistering first-half form, Opta statistics suggest Slot's men now have a 91.1% chance of lifting the Premier League trophy in May and that should be ominous to the chasing pack given Liverpool have tended to generally improve in the second half of proceedings under their current boss.

"They've just got everything going for them right now," adds Neville. "The confidence, they are growing week by week and the manager has done a brilliant job. And it pains me to say it but they are massive favourites now and Arsenal are the only team that can stop them now.

"I picked Arsenal at the start of the season so I am not going to change now, I'll stick with it but they have a massive, massive chance now. It will be one of the great managerial performances, I think (from Slot), to come in and no-one knew City would drop off and a lot of people, including me, thought Liverpool would have some pain this season with Jurgen Klopp era [ending]. So to be where they are is remarkable. It's been a great first half of the season.

"Liverpool are going to be difficult to beat now and they will enjoy that game against Manchester United on Sunday. All the [forwards] look like they are going to rip it up every time. And the worrying thing for me, reminds me of when we (United) were at our best here (at Old Trafford), they are all happy for each other when they score. That little smile and connection and that is when you know you have that tightness as a team.

"We know everyone wants to do well individually but when your team-mates score and you're just as happy for them as when you score, there's a little bit of that going on now. The biggest risk is just (Virgil) Van Dijk staying fit. If he stays fit then there's a massive chance to win the Premier League title."

Liverpool have previously found themselves heading into a new year as Premier League leaders six times but have only managed to get over the line once, which came five years ago now when Klopp's side surged to glory with 99 points, 18 clear of second-place City.

It's a record that might concern supporters but it will cut no ice inside the dressing room and Slot's decision to give his players a few days off after a punishing December could yet prove to be vital for the coming weeks ahead, particularly with the weekend's game being their first for seven days.

There will be no complaints of fatigue as a result as Liverpool look to continue tearing through the Premier League in the same way they did in the first half of 24/25. It's already shaping up to be a promising year.