REDS LOOK GOOD TO SECURE TOP SLOT

Arne's boys pass biggest test yet to hit the summit

- JOHN CROSS

ARNE SLOT will struggle to keep a lid on Liverpool's title aspirations.

This was comfortably his side's biggest test so far because the Premier League's fixture computer has given Slot one hell of a welcoming present.

And if this was the first major examination of their title credentials, then they passed it with a hard-fought win which shows they have resilience and determination to match their attacking brilliance.

They also did it courtesy of a superb man-of-the-match performance by Curtis Jones, who took his chance by scoring, winning a penalty and covering every blade of grass.

The midfielder said in the summer that he wanted to embrace the challenge of holding down a place in Slot's starting XI and this was a big statement from the local hero.

It was scrappy at times as, once again, more refereeing and VAR controversies threatened to spoil a good game of football.

You can be sure that we will not be talking about the standard of officials in this week's European fixtures in the way we are doing after every Premier League weekend at the moment.