The direction was not clear when Pochetino was sacked at the time he looked to building something with the team, but Enzo Maresca was a very good addition and has a clear pattern of football he wants his team to play. I will not put it beyond him to challenge for the league title after a few seasons or sooner even.
There's an argument that Enzo Maresca hasn't done much things impactful to the players, that he's just profiting from where Pochettino stop as the team was already playing better under him.
Take a look at the defences, no improvement there just that we're scoring more goals but they aren't against bigger teams yet and I see some sense in those statements. Winning the league over Pep should give you more bragging rights because the man is a beast (on another level) and I mean winning for real not what Liverpool did in COVID.
To win the league though you don't necessary have to own a 25+ top striker but you can do that with your attacking options being technical with the ball and finishing chance they get (modern day football style). Having 3/4 players with 10 to 15+ gaols contribution individually, should give you some advantage. You must not necessary depend on the strikers.