'Liverpool need to avoid complacency'

Liverpool have a genuinely outstanding chance of winning the Premier League title in Arne Slot's debut season.

An eight-point lead after 12 games is huge. Teams with this kind of lead at this stage, in any league, almost always go on to win it.

If the Reds beat Manchester City next weekend at Anfield we go 11 ahead of a Pep Guardiola side who look a shadow of their former selves.

But Liverpool need to avoid the complacency that almost cost them against Southampton.

At 1-0 up, it was almost too easy. Virgil van Dijk tried an unnecessary and slightly arrogant backheel that led to Andy Robertson giving away a penalty. Ibrahima Konate, who has been basically faultless this season, could have given away a penalty and was lucky not to be sent off after making silly defensive decisions.

With the ball at St Mary's, Liverpool purred. But it is being compact, smart and cautious off the ball that will stifle teams and make us hard to beat.

Liverpool should not have to work as hard as they did to beat Southampton. They need to save the comebacks and the late winners for bigger tests.

Last season, Liverpool ran out of emotional energy. This cannot happen again.

Slot will remind them of this. Be solid. No more 3-2 victories over relegation contenders.

Win games with one or two goals - easily.

Squeeze the life out of the chasing pack until they give up and the gap begins to grow.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop