Liverpool Make Perfect Start to Premier League

Liverpool's sizzling start to the Premier League season has left their title rivals breathless and the red-hot leaders are expected to maintain their perfect record against Newcastle.

Jurgen Klopp's side has seized the early initiative in the Premier League with four successive wins to open up a two-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.

The European champions' relentless tempo has overwhelmedNorwich, Southampton, Arsenal and Burnley, sending a message that they aredetermined to make amends for narrowly failing to pip City to the trophy last season.

Arsenal's Dani Ceballos is new to English football afterjoining on loan from Real Madrid and the Spain midfielder admitted to beinggob-smacked at the intensity Liverpool displayed in their 3-1 victory againstthe Gunners in August.

"I had never seen anything like it. I've not seen upuntil now a team that plays better, that presses better. That game had quite animpact on me," Ceballos told. They suck the air out of you. You spend somuch time defending and when you want to catch your breath and get on the ballfor a bit, they've taken it from you again. I think Jurgen Klopp now has theteam he first had in mind when he started four years ago."

That glowing testimony underlines the size of the taskfacing City as they try to stop Liverpool winning their first English crownsince 1990.

The city may have won the last two Premier League titles in scintillating fashion, but Liverpool look better than ever this term and Newcastle are unlikely to halt their progress at Anfield this weekend.

With City playing Norwich in Saturday's late game, the champions could be five points behind Liverpool by the time they kick-off at Carrow Road.

Pep Guardiola's team are unbeaten and have already thrashed West Ham and Brighton, but their lone slip – a draw against Tottenham – allowed Liverpool to seize pole position and they can't afford another against second-bottom Norwich.

Across Manchester, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United can onlydream of gate-crashing the title race after a disappointing start showed howfar they have fallen off the pace.