Sure Win
Liverpool Lead Premier League Title Race, But Mac Allister Stays Cautious. Liverpool have taken an early lead in the Premier League title race, though midfielder Alexis Mac Allister admits he didn’t expect them to be contenders at the season’s start.
After Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield, following Manchester City’s 2-1 loss to Brighton, the Reds now sit five points ahead of City. Mac Allister noted the significance of their position but urged caution, saying, “If we are top of the league by five points, then it means something. But we have to go step by step. If you asked me before the season started, I wouldn’t say we were candidates, but now it looks like we are.”
Arne Slot’s Impressive Start as Manager
Since taking over from Jurgen Klopp in the summer, Arne Slot has made a remarkable impact, guiding Liverpool to nine wins from their first 11 league games and an overall 15 victories in 17 matches. Slot acknowledged his team’s strong start but managed expectations, explaining, “We are really happy that most of our players have stayed fit through this tough run. If I look at the games that are ahead, they are tough. It will be a tough season in general. Margins are small; we have a margin, but it is small. There are many challenges to come for us.”
Experienced Liverpool Squad Could Sustain Title Challenge
Liverpool, last crowned Premier League champions in the 2019-20 season, have a team filled with experience. Saturday’s match featured several players from that title-winning squad, including Mohamed Salah, who has scored in four consecutive league games. Salah’s goal against Villa marked his tenth goal and tenth assist across all competitions, making him the first player this season in Europe’s top five leagues to reach double figures in both categories.
Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman believes this experience will be essential for maintaining their momentum. “This group of players has been through long campaigns. Some have won both the Premier League and the Champions League, so of course, they can sustain it,” McManaman said on TNT Sports.
Encouraging Signs for a Repeat of 2019-20 Success
Liverpool’s strong position has led Opta’s League Prediction model to give them a 59.3% chance of winning the Premier League—an unexpected rise from their preseason odds of just 5.1%. In contrast, Manchester City’s chances have dropped for the first time, making Liverpool the current favorites.
Liverpool’s start this season closely mirrors their 2019-20 campaign. They have collected 28 points in their first 11 games this season, just three points shy of the 31 they had at the same point in their title-winning season. Back then, Liverpool held a six-point lead over City, while this time, the gap is five points. They eventually claimed the title by a remarkable 18-point margin.
Slot has now matched a Premier League record, earning 28 points in his first 11 games as Liverpool manager, tied with Guus Hiddink’s early record at Chelsea.
Manchester City Positioned as Challengers
While Liverpool are in the driver’s seat, their fans know the title race is far from over. Manchester City, winners of the last four Premier League titles, have overcome deficits in past seasons. Two years ago, they trailed Arsenal by four points after ten games but managed to finish five points clear at the top. In 2020-21, Chelsea led by three points after 11 games, but City responded with a 12-match winning streak, finishing 13 points clear by January’s end.
As City’s fans sing, “we fight ’til the end,” the defending champions may still have a strong response in store. Liverpool’s lead is significant, but with a long season ahead, both teams have everything to play for.
