Summary:
- A 2-0 victory over Manchester City extended Liverpool’s Premier League lead to 11 points on Sunday.
- Mohamed Salah scored and assisted Dominik Szoboszlai.
- Arne Slot’s side looked unstoppable; however, the manager remained cautious, warning about the Premier League’s unpredictability.
Liverpool defeated reigning champions Manchester City 2-0 on Sunday, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to an imposing 11 points.
With Arsenal’s slip-up against West Ham the day before, Arne Slot’s side knew they had to seize the opportunity to tighten their grip on the title race. And this is precisely what they did.
Salah Scored His 40th Goal
“It is all over“, commented Sky Sports’ Roy Keane.
Manchester City have been amazing last few years, but you’re looking at Liverpool as the new champions.
Jamie Carragher echoed the sentiment, saying,
Beating Manchester City home and away is as big a statement as you can make.
Two moments of brilliance in the first half swung the contest firmly in Liverpool’s favor.
Mohamed Salah pounced on a well-worked set-piece to break the deadlock before turning provider for Dominik Szoboszlai, whose precise low finish doubled the lead.
Salah’s assist also marked his 30th goal of the campaign. In total, he has scored and assisted in 11 Premier League matches this season, the most by any player in a single season across Europe’s top five leagues since Lionel Messi’s 2014-15 campaign with Barcelona.
City Lacked Its Cutting Edge
City, for all their dominance out wide, particularly through Jeremy Doku, who racked up an astonishing 13 dribbles, lacked a cutting edge.
Erling Haaland’s absence left them without a focal point, diminishing their attacking threat.
The loss places them 20 points behind Liverpool, which is their biggest gap from the top since July 2020.
With their title defense in tatters, securing Champions League football is now their immediate priority.
Slot Remains Cautious
Liverpool’s traveling fans serenaded their team with chants of “we shall not be moved,” a declaration that felt truer than ever.
The Reds appear unshakable at the summit, despite earlier nervy performances against Everton, Wolves, and Aston Villa.
Slot’s ability to do the league double over Guardiola in his debut season mirrors Jurgen Klopp’s feat in his first year, only this time, Liverpool look set to capitalize.
Yet, Slot remains measured.
In every other league a lead like this would be very comfortable but not in this one
The Dutchman refuses to embrace the title-winners tag prematurely, a wise stance given the unpredictable nature of English football.
For City, the loss underscores a season of decline, but Guardiola remains optimistic. “I saw many things that this club has a bright future with the players that we have“, he insisted. While the title race seems all but decided, City’s focus now shifts to rebuilding for the future.