Why Liverpool's timid-treading challengers risk ruining the Premier League title race - and there's no excuses for Arsenal whose only void could be a lack of courage, writes CRAIG HOPE

Even when they did not play, Liverpool were declared the victors, and there was something deflating about that collective verdict.

It came in the hours after the 1-1 draw between Arsenal and Manchester City on Sunday, a result that left the champions five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Yes, Liverpool are justifiably even-money favourites to retain their title, but those odds alone tell you there is a coin-flip chance of it going elsewhere. That is why there needs to be more bite among the chasing pack. More belief.

Liverpool will not win every game, and they should not be anointed the winners when two rivals drop points, either. To revive the spirit of Kevin Keegan, they’ve still got to go to Nottingham Forest (and 16 others) and get something.

Remember, we sell this as the most competitive league in the world, where the little teams can beat the big teams. What we need to see is the big teams believing they can beat the big teams.

Arsenal have no excuses now. For six years under Mikel Arteta, they have been on a journey. 

Every missed title has come with mitigation, primarily because of missing pieces. This is station destination now - it’s time to disembark and confront the expectation. 

Because there are no more holes in the squad, the only void would appear to be in the courage of their ambition to embrace and conquer the challenge in front of them.

In two games against Liverpool and Manchester City they have not led, despite playing well enough to do so. They have taken one point, and that courtesy of a 93rd-minute equaliser against City on Sunday. 

The 1-0 defeat at Anfield was inflicted by a wonderful Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, but did Arsenal return enough by way of blows on their opponent? No. They had one shot on target that day.

At the weekend, in a match they dominated from a possession and territory perspective, they’d only found the target twice before Gabriel Martinelli’s rescue act. That is the concern with Arsenal - they can apply pressure, but do they have the menace to punish?

It was as much the nature of their performance - and that of City, but for different reasons - that led to this fetid air of assumption around Liverpool and their title defence.

There is a temptation to say that City have more reason to be off the pace (eight points now) than Arsenal, but do they? 

Despite a summer of suggestion to the contrary amid Liverpool’s pursuit of Alexander Isak, City still have the Premier League’s best striker in Erling Haaland. 

Not only that, he appears in better shape than he has ever been, a warrior on roller blades. The only player moving quicker than him in the division right now is team-mate Jeremy Doku. 

Rodri is back from a season on the sidelines, and Phil Foden is back from a season in the shadows. 

City have more than enough to return more than the seven points from five games that has them level with Leeds and below Sunderland.

We should have a genuine title race this season, not a procession. Liverpool are very good, but the timid treading of the challengers will be making them feel even better. 

It is time for others to make Liverpool feel uncomfortable, be that when they play or when they don’t.