Arne Slot has tempered expectations surrounding Liverpool’s Premier League title ambitions, emphasizing the unpredictability of the season illustrated by Manchester City’s recent struggles.
Following a 3-1 victory over Leicester, powered by goals from Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool has established a seven-point lead at the top of the table. Their positioning grew even more favorable as Chelsea fell to Fulham on Boxing Day. However, Slot remains cautious, noting that Arsenal could close the gap to six points if they triumph over Ipswich on Friday night while Liverpool holds a game in hand.
In his post-match remarks, Slot cited Manchester City’s poor form as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change. Pep Guardiola’s side has managed only one win in their last 12 games across all competitions, following a draw against Everton.
When questioned about whether the title is now in Liverpool’s hands, Slot remarked, “In this game, with experience, you learn that with 20 games left, you can’t look at it that way. There are numerous challenges ahead. Just two months ago, we were one point behind City, and we’ve witnessed how injuries and suspensions can derail a season.”
He also downplayed the idea that Liverpool are cruising towards the championship, insisting that there have been no “easy wins” this year. “It’s premature to celebrate. While we take pride in our performance, every match has posed challenges,” he stated.
Slot highlighted the difficulty of maintaining form, alluding to a recent high-scoring encounter against Tottenham where Liverpool’s lead was jeopardized. “Winning in the Premier League is tough, particularly when injuries or suspensions arise. We must focus on taking it one game at a time,” he concluded.
With many matches still to be played, Liverpool remains vigilant, fully aware of the competitiveness that defines the Premier League.
