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Pundit and former England striker Alan Shearer(Image: BBC Sport)

Alan Shearer says Liverpool have benefited from a "really poor" challenge from their main Premier League title rivals as he praised the work of the Reds' medical team.

Arne Slot's team have opened up a 13-point lead on second-placed Arsenal - albeit having played a game more - after a comfortable 2-0 home triumph over Newcastle United on Wednesday night.

Liverpool won at Manchester City on Sunday by the same scoreline to open up a 20-point lead over the fourth-placed outgoing champions, with Nottingham Forest - the only team to beat the Reds in the top flight this season - in third.

And with the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all underwhelming, Shearer believes Slot's side have benefited from the low quality of their opponents.

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"Even when they (Liverpool) haven't played well, they've found a way to win, which has been a great trait of all the teams who have won the Premier League - you have to do that," said the Premier League's record goalscorer.

"In the main, Liverpool have been absolutely fantastic, but I do have to say that the teams chasing them have been poor.

"Nobody would have said Forest would have been in third position at this stage, so you can’t really include them, but the main title chasers, the likes of Arsenal, Man City and all the others have been really poor and it's been an off-season for them.

"Liverpool have been the standout team by an absolute mile."

Liverpool have had to cope without Alisson Becker for more than two months, Ibrahima Konate for six weeks and Diogo Jota for three months while Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are both facing a second lengthy spell on the sidelines this season.

Shearer, though, believes the Reds injury problems are minor and has praised the work of the medical team for keeping so many players available.

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"Another feature of the season has been teams having lots of injuries, but Liverpool haven't - they've been a pretty steady ship," he said, speaking to Betfair.

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"Yeah they've had one or two injuries, but when you compare that to other teams who have been decimated then Liverpool haven't really had that.

For the vast majority of the season, they've kept their big-hitters fit and in the team every single week for league games.

"You have to say, whatever they're doing in terms of their sports science, rest and recovery; they have to be given great credit for that.

Their medical team behind the scenes will either be tapped up in the summer, or they'll be in for a pay increase!"


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