Arne Slot will be "right up there" with the best Liverpool managers if he can steer the club to Premier League glory in his debut season, former Reds striker John Aldridge believes.
The Dutchman's side are now 11 points clear of closest challengers Arsenal at the top of the standings after he masterminded a 2-0 win over reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday, thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool have capitalised on the holders' drop-off and Arsenal's slip-ups - the latest being a 1-0 loss to West Ham United - to arguably reach champions-elect status, as Slot seeks to become just the fifth manager to win the Premier League in his first season in English football.
Only Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini and Antonio Conte have previously achieved that feat, and speaking exclusively to Sports Mole, Aldridge - who netted 63 goals in 104 games for Liverpool - hailed Slot as a "genius" for his work with Jurgen Klopp's crop of players.
"Well, he's right up there for doing that," Aldridge said. "Legend... I think he's very well respected. The crowd love him for what he's done with another man's team, another man's tools. He's been absolutely incredible.
"I'm just waiting to see what he does in the summer. He's got to be given big money to go out and buy three players at least. Hopefully he can keep some of the players that we were looking to keep. And then you might see a little bit more expansive football.
Slot's "genius" work hailed after Jurgen Klopp Liverpool exit
"The way he's changed it with Jurgen's team, it's genius. He's not messed things about. He's tinkered with things. It's more pragmatic, more regimental, the way we play now. We're in control of the team. Not as quick and as hectic with Jurgen. And it's got us where we are."
While Liverpool do have a seemingly unassailable lead at the summit, Arsenal do have a game in hand and are not complete strangers to astounding title comebacks, having made up a 12-point deficit to Manchester United in the 1997-98 season.
The Gunners also have the chance to blow the title race wide open at Anfield in the third-last gameweek of the 2024-25 campaign, if Liverpool have not already been crowned champions by that point, and the North London giants have fond championship-winning memories from the Merseyside venue.
Needing to beat Liverpool by two goals on the last day of the 1988-89 First Division season, Arsenal clinched a dramatic 2-0 victory thanks to a last-gasp Michael Thomas goal, thus pipping the Reds to the crown by the thinnest of margins.
Aldridge - who played in that game - has claimed that it would be fitting for his former club to confirm their status as champions in that fixture versus Mikel Arteta's side. thus laying the 1989 demons to rest.
"I'd never say that, I'm not that type of person," he replied when asked if the title race was over. "We're still in the driving seat, obviously. I was hoping for the Villa game and the City game to hopefully get four points, but I thought they might have been the other way around, three at Villa and one at City.
Aldridge reflects on "memories of 1989" in Liverpool vs. Arsenal title race
© Imago
"So it's worked out well with Arsenal are slipping up in the derby against West Ham. We've got seven home games, and I think if we win them all, it's game over. Before the last home game, Wolves, we struggled a little bit. I just think the Arsenal game is massive. We win all our home games, there's no coming back for Arsenal.
"From a particular point of view, I'm thinking it'd be nice if we got to the Arsenal game, having to win it to win the league. Memories of 1989, playing in that game where they were brilliant to the last kick of the season. It'd be nice to get them back a little bit in front of our own crowd, and lay it to rest.
"But Arsenal have been brilliant this season. And only for losing Saka in particular, it'd be closer. That's worked well for Liverpool, but we've been brilliant.
"City, the manager's tactics were brilliant. I was a bit gobsmacked when I saw them playing with Jones and Szoboszlai false nines. It worked a treat! They had a few injuries, that helped us. But you've still got to beat what's in front."
Liverpool might be a whopping 14 points clear of the Gunners at the summit of the table by the close of play in Wednesday, as the Reds play host to Newcastle United on the same evening that Arsenal travel to meet third-placed Nottingham Forest.
John Aldridge was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of talkSPORT BET.
Ben Knapton
