No 'super team' in Premier League, says Liverpool forward Firmino

Liverpool is capable of emerging from a Premier League pack with no clear favourite for the title, according to Roberto Firmino.

Published : Aug 27, 2017 15:03 IST

Roberto Firmino hopes Liverpool can give a clear indication of its Premier League title ambitions against Arsenal on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp's side has taken four points from its opening two matches and booked its place in the group stages of the Champions League with an emphatic 4-2 win over Bundesliga side Hoffenheim at Anfield in midweek.

Manchester United has a 100 per cent record after its first three matches and sits two points clear of neighbours Manchester City at the summit, but Brazil international Firmino believes it is hard to identify an outright favourite to be crowned champion - something that could play into Liverpool's hands.

"We must at least repeat our performance of last year by finishing in the top four - and then fight for the title," said Firmino.

"The team is also very motivated by the experience of being back in the Champions League. The target is to finish in the best possible position and we are aiming high.

"I think we have a chance because the Premier League is a very open competition this year. For me there doesn't exist an out-and-out favourite.

"That's what makes the season exciting. All the squads have improved but there isn't one single 'super team'. Everybody will believe they have a chance."

Liverpool was made to work for an edgy 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield last weekend and Firmino acknowledges the Reds can afford few slips on home soil if they are to mount a credible challenge.

"The key for us is to win our games at Anfield and make it an impossible place for rivals to visit," the Brazil international added. "But you can see it will be a closer title race than in the past. So we need to take our opportunity."

Liverpool will once again be without Firmino's compatriot Philippe Coutinho against Arsenal, with the Barcelona target officially laid low by illness, while reports early on Sunday suggested Klopp would select Loris Karius in goal and omit regular number one Simon Mignolet from the match-day 18.

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