Before the season started, no one gave attention to Liverpool. Some people were predicting that City will defend the league. While Arsenal fans were saying that, it's their turn to win the league thos season. Unfortunately, for these two teams, they don't have the quality and strength to prove those who made those predictions right. Injury ravaged City, and Arsenal cannot be consistent Liverpool proved everyone wrong.
I don't think so, before the season started Liverpool was one of the teams that was watched a lot because they have a new coach after a long time with Jurgen Klopp. There was a lot of speculation about them before the season started and some even talked about their possibility of becoming champions. Now they are in first place leading with a few points advantage. Their chance of becoming champions this season is very good, it depends on how they can use it or not, as long as they can be consistent they can become champions.