- Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table after beating Chelsea
- Micah Richards believes the Reds are now genuine title contenders this season
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Micah Richards believes Liverpool are genuine title contenders following their win over Chelsea.
Arne Slot‘s side returned to the summit of the Premier League table after beating the Blues 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday.
Goals from Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones ensured the Reds bright start to the season continued and Richards says they can go all the way this season.
The former Manchester City defender said on Sky Sports: ‘Liverpool are challengers now, there’s no mistake about it. The way they can see out a game, the way they can adapt the game.
‘I really believe they’ve got a chance to go all the way this year.’
He added: ‘I think he’s (Slot) brought a little bit of calmness, Defensively, Liverpool look a lot more solid.
At times under Klopp, the football he played was amazing to watch but as a defender sometimes playing in that system you could be exposed a little bit. The timing in which the defenders drop back and push up is a lot more balanced.
‘You’ve alway got players at the top of the pitch who can win you games so it’s what you can do defensively and that’s why i believe they’re challengers this season.’
Meanwhile, Daniel Sturridge has backed Liverpool to claim the big prize, saying: ‘Right now I think it would be very tough for me to think Liverpool couldn’t continue.
‘I’m just going to go with Liverpool because they’re playing magnificent football.’
‘It was a brilliant game. Chelsea more than played their part. It feels like the first big game for Slot at Anfield,’ Jamie Carragher said.
‘They needed the crowd to get over the line. Liverpool weren’t at their best but still found a way to win.’
Liverpool took the lead through Mohamed Salah‘s penalty just before the half hour mark after Levi Colwill brought down Curtis Jones.
Chelsea got on level terms three minutes after the break thanks to Nicolas Jackson’s clinical finish.
But Jones poked the ball past Sanchez to regain Liverpool’s lead just three minutes later and earn his side all three points at Anfield.
