Liverpool Edge Closer To Premier League Title With Commanding Win Over Manchester City.
Liverpool took a giant step towards securing the Premier League title with a decisive 2-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, extending their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.
As the final whistle blew, chants of “We’re going to win the league” echoed from the away section, leaving no doubt about the growing belief among Liverpool supporters. With just 11 matches remaining, the Reds appear destined to lift the trophy, continuing the rich legacy of legendary managers such as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, and Joe Fagan, who famously described the league title as their “bread and butter.”
A Title Race All but Decided
Liverpool’s triumph was further magnified by Arsenal’s shock defeat to West Ham, diminishing the Gunners’ hopes of closing the gap. While mathematically still possible, history suggests that an 11-point advantage at this stage of the season is almost insurmountable—especially for a side as consistent as Liverpool, who have lost just once in the league all season.
Speaking after the match, head coach Arne Slot remained measured in his response.
“In any other league, having a lead like this would be very comfortable, but not in this league,” he said. “There is a challenge in every game. The fans can sing what they want, but we know how hard we have to work.”
Despite Slot’s cautious words, the statistics paint a different picture. The only comparable title collapse came in the 1997-98 season when Manchester United surrendered an 11-point lead to Arsenal. However, United had already lost five games at that stage—Liverpool, by contrast, have suffered just one defeat.
Even Pep Guardiola, who has denied Liverpool in past title races, seemed resigned to the inevitable. His warm embrace of Slot and Liverpool’s players at full-time spoke volumes.
Former England goalkeeper and Match of the Day pundit Joe Hart was even more definitive in his assessment:
“There’s no way back for Arsenal. They can win every game from here, but I still don’t think it will be enough.”
Liverpool’s Statistical Dominance
Liverpool’s grip on the Premier League is further solidified by their dominance in key metrics:
– Most goals scored – 64
– Most shots taken – 452
– Most shots on target – 173
At the heart of their success is Mohamed Salah, who delivered another masterclass, scoring his 30th goal of the season before setting up Dominik Szoboszlai for the second. Salah’s contributions now stand at an astonishing 51 goal involvements (30 goals, 21 assists) before the end of February, placing him alongside Liverpool greats such as Roger Hunt and Ian Rush.
Liverpool’s win at the Etihad carried added significance. Before this match, they had won just one of their previous 15 league visits to City. This time, they delivered a clinical and composed performance, restricting City’s chances despite the home side dominating possession.
A New Era Under Slot
Slot has seamlessly transitioned from Jurgen Klopp’s high-intensity style to a more pragmatic, ruthlessly efficient approach. While Liverpool may not produce the same high-octane football of Klopp’s prime years, they have evolved into a side that can manage games with precision.
Their performance against City exemplified this shift. Despite having just 33.9% possession—their lowest in a Premier League victory since Opta’s records began in 2003-04—Liverpool never looked threatened. Alisson was rarely called into action, while their well-drilled defence and devastating counter-attacks ensured they controlled proceedings.
“That was a proper business-like performance from Liverpool,” Hart added. “They looked in complete control, executing their game plan perfectly. They had a contingency for everything City threw at them.”
The Final Stretch
With seven of their remaining 11 matches to be played at Anfield, Liverpool’s path to the title looks increasingly clear. The days of nail-biting final-day heartbreaks against Guardiola’s City appear to be over. This time, the title is Liverpool’s to lose.
It is now a question of when, rather than if, the Premier League trophy will be adorned with red ribbons. The final act of this season could well be a Liverpool procession—one that might just end with an open-top bus parade through the streets of Merseyside.
