Arsenal used the first day of 2025 to send out a reminder of its title credentials by coming from behind to beat Brentford. The Gunners are now six points adrift of Liverpool at the top, although Arne Slot's men still have a game in hand.

It had been the perfect festive period for Liverpool with three wins out of three, including two impressive results away from home at Tottenham and West Ham. Slot's team has scored 14 goals in those matches to cement their place as clear title favorites.

Manchester City's struggles look to have ended any hope of retaining the title while Chelsea has lost its last two games against Fulham and Ipswich. And as the New Year gets underway, it seems Arsenal is best placed to challenge the Reds.

It won't come as a surprise to the Liverpool boss, who has continued to talk Arsenal up. After all, Manchester City only pipped the Gunners to the title on the final day last season, and they weren't far away a year earlier.

Mikel Arteta knew his team had to be at their best against a Brentford side who had lost just once at home this season. And the Bees threatened to cause another upset when Liverpool-linked Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring.

It could have been two for the home side when David Raya almost fumbled the ball into the back of his net. But seconds later Arsenal was level as Gabriel Jesus headed home after Thomas Partey had been denied.

And Arsenal came racing out of the traps after the interval to pull clear of Brentford. Mark Flekken failed to hold onto a corner, allowing Mikel Merino to tap home from close range before Gabriel Martinelli made it 3-1 soon after.

It was the perfect result for Arsenal, who remains without key man Bukayo Saka through injury while Kai Havertz missed out through illness. Arteta also opted to give Declan Rice a rest, with the decision ultimately vindicated.

Arsenal has the opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool to two points this weekend when it travels to Brighton on Saturday evening. That comes before Liverpool's visit of struggling Manchester United to Anfield on Sunday.

Arteta had warned ahead of the game that his side would be ready to pounce, should Liverpool drop off in the second half of the season. There is no sign of Slot's men doing that right now but few would expect them to keep this excellent run going from now until May.

The lead at this stage of the season gives Liverpool some breathing space and Arsenal knows it cannot afford too many slip-ups in the run-in. It could go down to the wire but there is no doubt who is in the driving seat right now.

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Having arrived as an 18-year-old from Charlton in 2015, Gomez joined with a blossoming reputation and a £3.5 million price tag that suggested he would be immediately considered for the first team.

The brakes were never deliberately applied in the near-decade since, though as he learned again on Sunday, the bigger issue is when they are forcibly done so.

Gomez made his eighth consecutive start in the trip to West Ham that ended 2024 with a 5-0 win, but was unable to finish the first half as he pulled his hamstring in a challenge with Max Kilman and called for a substitution.

Jarell Quansah took his place and, speaking after the game, Arne Slot accepted that his No. 2 would be out for “quite a bit” as medical staff organised scans to take place at the start of the week.

The extent of Gomez’s injury is unclear, but its timing arguably could not have been worse for the player himself, who was visibly frustrated as he walked off the pitch with club doctor Amit Pannu.

When Ibrahima Konate‘s absence was confirmed following a ridiculous tackle from Real Madrid striker Endrick, Slot had the choice of two options as the Frenchman’s stand-in.

Given Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas were also sidelined and Trent Alexander-Arnold had required painkilling injections to get through games, it was unclear at first whether the head coach would opt for Gomez or Quansah at centre-back.

• READ: It may be ‘all talk’, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is the only one who can end it

Gomez’s versatility suggested he could be kept for rotation at full-back, rather than alongside Virgil van Dijk in the centre, but Slot defied that logic and deployed him at the heart of defence.

It was a smart decision, particularly given Quansah’s inconsistency when called upon this season, with the reunion of Liverpool’s successful back four of years gone by providing the stability and assurance needed.

While it may have taken Gomez a period to find his feet again, before long he had rekindled the partnership with Van Dijk that made him such a key player under Jurgen Klopp, furnished by their understanding with Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson as full-backs.

Such was Gomez’s form in the absence of Konate – particularly against Man City, Tottenham and with 10 men against Fulham – that there could have been a debate over whether the No. 5 should immediately reclaim his starting spot when fit.

Gomez will certainly have felt that way, but now the decision is much simpler for Slot, who will now await the return of Konate as a matter of urgency.

It is a familiar scenario for Gomez, who has found himself in and out of favour during his time at Liverpool often due to his remarkable misfortune when it comes to injuries.

Van Dijk has been Liverpool’s only real constant at centre-back, with Gomez, Konate, Joel Matip and, for a time, Dejan Lovren cycled through as the Dutchman’s regular partners.

Though he may be burdened with the ‘injury prone’ label, it would be unfair to describe Gomez as such despite missing 226 games for club and country with cruciate ligament, heel and patellar tendon injuries as well as a broken leg.

Instead, he deserves to be recognised as a model professional and a dedicated athlete who has managed to overcome freak setbacks that would end the top-level careers of many others, with a mental fortitude to stay relevant at a club like Liverpool.

“I know how blessed I am to be here and it will be 10 years in the summer. I don’t take that for granted,” he said earlier in December, having seen a £45 million move to Newcastle break down over the summer.

“It is the best club in the world in my eyes and it was quickly a case of adapting and getting into the swing of things [after it was clear I would stay]. It was good to put it to bed.

“It’s football. To be somewhere 10 years and not have any blips would not be natural.”

On his role as a reliable squad player, however, he did add: “It is tricky because you don’t know when the chance will come or under what circumstances, what position and so on and so forth.

“But I can only control what I can focus on, and that is being the best professional I can be.”

It stands to reason that Gomez will resume that position when he returns from his hamstring injury, by which point Konate is likely to have reclaimed the spot alongside Van Dijk and, hopefully, found world-class form again.

Of course, Slot would likely have phased Konate back in regardless, but that Gomez has lost his spot through a muscle injury – almost certainly caused by an overload of minutes having been largely inactive beforehand – is a mental blow more than anything.

Still, as his head coach will acknowledge, Liverpool’s renaissance man has proved once again that he is more than just a valuable backup.

Joe Gomez can be relied upon whenever and wherever.

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Following Real Madrid‘s failed bid to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold at the start of the January transfer window, the expectation is that he will eventually leave.

Alexander-Arnold was subject of a proposal worth around £20 million on New Year’s Eve which, unsurprisingly, Liverpool immediately dismissed.

It has been widely reported that the Reds have no intention of allowing their No. 66 to leave before the end of the season, though his expiring contract makes it likely a move to Real will eventually come to pass.

That is the belief of a number of journalists in an update from the Telegraph, including Liverpool reporter Chris Bascombe.

Bascombe writes that Liverpool have “still not given up hope” of tying Alexander-Arnold down to a new deal, but “Real’s effort to try to buy the player early demonstrates their confidence that if they do not sign him this month, they will do so in the summer.”

Colleague Jason Burt writes: “Real Madrid will not have made the call to Liverpool without knowing Alexander-Arnold wants to go and that making an offer now would be rejected.”

“As much as I would love Alexander-Arnold to announce his future with a Wolf Of Wall Street meme declaring ‘I’m not leaving’, I expect him to join Real in the summer,” adds Mike McGrath.

• READ: When Alexander-Arnold’s camp held positive talks with Real Madrid

With it now 2025, This Is Anfield’s Adam Beattie has looked for one New Year’s resolution for every player in the Liverpool squad. Here’s his target for Mo Salah:

“Having broken the Premier League goalscoring record for a single campaign in his first season on Merseyside, Salah has since seen that crown be taken off him by Erling Haaland.

“It is quite the bar, but the Egyptian King is in perhaps the best form of his life and finds himself on 17 goals with 20 games still to go, only a fool would bet against him threatening Haaland’s tally of 36 in 2022/23.”

• Marcus Rashford has been forced to deny claims he has hired an agency to secure a move away from Man United this month (Mail)

• Wolves striker Matheus Cunha has been banned for two games for his involvement in an altercation with Ipswich staff after a 2-1 loss last month (Premier League)

• Wigan have announced the signing of right-back Josh Robinson from Arsenal, which could trigger Calvin Ramsay‘s premature return to Liverpool (WAFC)

On this day in 2018, Liverpool completed their best-ever January signing – and one of the best in the club’s entire history.

Virgil van Dijk‘s move was announced on December 27, 2017 but the Dutchman could only formally join on New Year’s Day, with it now seven years since he made his arrival.

He has made 294 appearances, won eight trophies, finished runner-up for the Ballon d’Or and now captains Liverpool. That’s £75 million well spent.

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Liverpool’s 2024 saw the end of one era and the beginning of another. With so much changing, we’ve rounded up the media’s thoughts on the year and looked back on how they reacted to some of the key moments.

When Jurgen Klopp announced he was to leave Liverpool, supporters reacted with shock and anxiety.

The Reds were in a title race and he was the figure spearheading a young team and the fans across four competitions.

The German didn’t get his triumphant send-off, but he did relay the foundations for Arne Slot to take over and elevate Liverpool to the next level.

Despite the impending contract expiries of three key players causing angst, Liverpool are in a much sturdier position to move forward into the future than they were 12 months ago.

Here, we look at how the media assessed Liverpool’s 2024…

Richard Jolly of the Independent thinks Liverpool are flourishing thanks to the squad’s mentality:

“The danger is that Slot has a substantially weaker squad in his second season than his first, should talks break down and others take advantage of Liverpool’s failure to tie them down before the new manager’s arrival.

“Liverpool have spent much of 2024 in limbo. They nevertheless flourished in the first two months after Klopp announced he would go.

“They have prospered when it is unclear if Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold will follow.

“If it is testament to their mentality, it faces a further test as the time left on those three deals decreases and as suitors are allowed to approach them.”

Writing for the National, Gareth Cox chose to focus on Mo Salah when looking back at the year:

“For Liverpool attacker Mohammed Salah, 2024 ended just as it started – with the Egyptian superstar hitting the back of the net and setting up goals for teammates.

“On New Year’s Day, Salah scored two and set up another as Liverpool defeated Newcastle United 4-2 at Anfield in a campaign that saw him reach the 20-goal barrier across all competitions for the seventh consecutive season at the club.

“Fast forward to December 29 and Salah notched one and provided two more as the Merseysiders thrashed West Ham United 5-0 as he ended the year top of both the Premier League goals and assists charts with 17 and 13, respectively.

“His efforts at the London Stadium meant Salah reached 30 goal involvements in fewer games (18) than anyone in Premier League history, while also becoming only the second player to do so in 20 games after Luis Suarez for the Reds in 2013/14.

“Any thoughts Liverpool might struggle after Jurgen Klopp‘s exit in the summer have been blown away under new manager Arne Slot, with the Merseysiders ending 2025 top of the table in both the Premier League and Champions League, having lost just once.”

Steph Jones was the Liverpool fan selected to give her thoughts on the second half of 2024, praising Slot and recounting her most amusing moment for the Observer:

“The team have been formidable and adapted with ease to a shift in style, showing both swagger and diligence.

[…]

“Salah again deserves every plaudit that comes his way but others, like Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Jones and Gakpo merit all the acclaim they’re now getting.

“And the boss, he’s been outstanding, galvanising the squad with no additions (Chiesa doesn’t count yet), and solving the defensive midfield role by putting Gravenberch there. He has instilled a new confidence in the team who are all playing with smiles.

“He is erudite and funny, batting away contract talks, and he can get pretty het up as his yellow cards and touchline ban show.

“My funniest moment at the match was during the first game of the season at Ipswich when the home fans, aggrieved at the referee, belted out: ‘Who’s the Scouser in the black?’.

“Instant retort from the away end: ‘Alisson! Alisson!’. Made me laugh.”

Here is how the Mail‘s Ollie Holt brilliantly summed up Liverpool’s dramatic 1-0 League Cup win over Chelsea in February:

“This is what it came down to in the end. This is what it came down to in one of the most dramatic domestic football finals Wembley has ever seen.

“On one side, Chelsea‘s billion pound squad, the collection of record signings and extravagant busts and individuals who fit all the number-crunchers’ algorithms but do not play as a team.

“And on the other side, a bunch of kids and a couple of giants. Kids from Rainhill and Warrington and Newcastle, who were in the team because Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and a phalanx of Liverpool’s best players were out injured.

“Kids so young that Alan Shearer remarked he had played against the dads of some of them. Kids who made this look like the team Liverpool might turn out in the FA Youth Cup. Kids who stepped up when their club needed them.”

Three months later, Liverpool ended the season in third place and Klopp left to an emotional farewell. Evertonian and BBC journalist Phil McNulty reflected on his last day at Anfield:

“This was a day that more about Klopp than Liverpool’s result or performance – but it was fitting the manager who has overseen so many memorable victories at Anfield should sign off his nine-year reign with a win.

[…]

“This was Klopp’s 491st match in charge and his 299th win, losing only 12 of 167 Premier League games at Anfield.

“Klopp’s remarkable record has written him into Liverpool legend, as could be seen the tears, smiles and raw emotion that played out throughout the game.

“The good news for Slot is Klopp has left him in a squad in fine shape to push for further success with a blend of world-class stars and emerging youngsters for the coach, who is coming from Feyenoord, to take on next season.

“This, however, was Klopp’s day and The Kop left him in no doubt how much they loved him and how much he will be missed.”

Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Bologna on October 2 seemed routine, but it was a moment for the Telegraph‘s Chris Bascombe to write about the influence of Slot in just three short months:

“Arne Slot has achieved quite the feat within three months of becoming Liverpool manager. None of his illustrious predecessors enjoyed such a victorious start to their reign.

“An eighth win in nine games ranks Slot at the top of an elite list above Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Kenny Dalglish and Jurgen Klopp. And yet the biggest measure of the Dutchman’s immediate impact is that despite already getting to work on updating the record books, there is a sense of so much more to come.

“Bologna are not the first Liverpool opponent this season to be beaten by a display which was both brilliant and yet, in parts, a bit too vulnerable. The excellence was, at times, mesmerising.

“When Liverpool click they absorb the finest elements of the side Klopp left behind with a more flexible, creative midfield full of tricks and twirls.”

Finally, Liverpool finished the year top of the Premier League with the Guardian‘s Barney Ronay even suggesting the title race could turn into an extended procession:

“Liverpool will now enter 2025 top of the Premier League by at least seven points, and with at least one game in hand on those in their slipstream.

“Arne Slot‘s team were once again coherent, energetic and well balanced, the goals shared between that re-energised front three.

“The weather can change, teams can stumble, force majeure can intervene.

“The rest of the league is going to need help from all three to prevent the five months becoming an extended procession.”

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