Your biggest rival has lost the previous five games and you have a chance to grab an eight-point lead at the summit if you beat the underdogs at your place. So, what do you do?Celebrate a routine victory, of course – if you’re a serious team. And Arne Slot’s Liverpool definitely is of that sort and it would be a gigantic upset if Southampton would return from Anfield tonight with a point in their pockets, let alone all three.##NAJAVA_MECA_8519596##The Premier League newcomers, who are about to return to the second tier promptly, don’t seem to be a rival capable of hurting the high-flying Reds.The Reds have won 15 of their first 17 games under Slot, which is the best-ever start of any Liverpool manager boss. They are at the top of both the Premier League and Champions League. And next weekend Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City arrives at Anfield in what could be a decisive match of the season although it’s not even the New Year’s Eve.Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a championHowever, first things first – Southampton and sticking to the plan.”If you’re a manager, you have to believe in something and, in my opinion, stick to that plan,” said the Liverpool boss.”If your plan is to defend the whole game or all season, then stick to that plan because you believe in it, and you’re trying to convince your players that that is the way to go. If after four, five, six weeks, you completely change your idea about football, that normally doesn’t send the right signal to your players, at least that’s what I think.”Slot’s comment on Pep’s Man City contract extension is somewhat unexpectedSlot was full of praise for his counterpart, Russell Martin.”What we do know is that he was really successful with them last season, he brought them back up, and that he makes it really hard for every team to play against them. Normally, these teams that go up, they need some time to adapt to a new league. If you have a good idea about football and a good gameplan, then results will come,” concluded he.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 12SaturdayLeicester City – Cheslea 1-2 (0-1)/Ayew 90+4 pen – Jackson 15, Fernandez 75/Arsenal – Nott.Forest 3-0 (1-0)/Saka 15, Partey 52, Nwaneri 86/Aston Villa – Crystal Palace 2-2 (1-2)/Watkins 36, Barkley 77 – Sarr 4, Devenny 45+1/Bournemouth – Brighton 1-2 (0-1)/Brooks 90+3 – Joao Pedro 4, Mitoma 49/Everton – Brentford 0-0Fulham – Wolverhampton 1-4 (1-1)/Iwobi 20 – Cunha 31, 87, Gomes 53, Guedes 90+5/Man.City – Tottenham 0-4 (0-2)/Maddison 13, 20, Porro 53, Johnson 90+3/Sunday17:00: (9.50) Southampton (5.90) Liverpool (1.28)19:30: (5.40) Ipswich (3.80) Man.Utd. (1.65)Monday22:00: (1.52) Newcastle (4.20) West Ham (6.25)***odds are subject to change***
