The next time Liverpool find that it's London Calling, they might be minded to let it go to voicemail. Having tasted a first defeat of the season via Eddie Nketiah's 97th-minute strike at Crystal Palace, Arne Slot's men once more found themselves on the end of a 2-1 scoreline seven days later, courtesy of Estavao Willian's similarly late effort at Chelsea.

Throw in a Champions League hiccup at Galatasaray and it's first time the Reds have lost three in a row since March 2023, when an ageing midfield was coming toward the end of its cycle under Jurgen Klopp.

For Slot, though, the back-to-back league reverses may yet prove to be cosmetic only with the champions still only a point behind new leaders Arsenal at the top.

In order to retain the title and nudge ahead of historic...