Next few weeks will go a long way towards shaping the Reds' season

HISTORY is repeating for Arne Slot this month. The perception, though, could hardly be more different for the Liverpool head coach and his revamped squad.

- By IAN DOYLE

Twelve months ago, the Reds returned from the October international break to be faced with a tough run of matches many believed would prove whether or not they were the real deal after a start of the season in which Slot had won nine out of his first 10 games in charge.

That Liverpool went on to negotiate a tricky period with six wins and a draw cemented their position as Premier League leaders, a summit from which they were never usurped on the way to a record-equalling 20th championship.

Throw in a couple of impressive Champions League wins and continued progress in the League Cup - all with first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker sidelined - and Slot's side silenced any doubts over their credentials in the post-Jurgen Klopp era.

This time around, while the immediate task is eerily similar, Liverpool go into a difficult run of seven matches until the November international break very much on the backfoot after seven consecutive wins were followed by three defeats inside a week at Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea.