Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot and his dressing room are keeping their feet firmly on the ground despite the Reds holding a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League, citing past examples where Manchester City successfully chased down league leaders.
With Liverpool set to face Southampton, Slot remains cautious: “We are all aware of the fact we are only 11 games into the season and will not get carried away,” he emphasised.
The Liverpool boss is mindful of recent history, recalling how Arsenal and even his own club previously let leads slip late in the season against a relentless City side.
He asserts that neither he, the owners, nor the players are under any illusions about the challenges ahead: “It is not like this is the first time in Liverpool history we have been top of the league. I don’t think the owners will get carried away. I am for sure not getting carried away, and the players will not as well.”
As Liverpool gears up for a pivotal week, which includes a Champions League clash with Real Madrid and an impending showdown with City at Anfield, the spotlight is on whether they can maintain their pole position.
Liverpool have edged ahead as the bookies’ pick to clinch the Premier League title, while Opta’s supercomputer also forecasts a triumph for the Reds come May.
However, Slot remains uninterested in such speculation, stating: “I don’t talk about favourites. It is boring but I just talk about the next game which is a challenge in itself. I have said many times that in the Premier League the margins are very small. That is true all season.
“Last season I followed the league and there was a moment when City were eight points behind Arsenal (it was 2022-23) so there is no use in getting carried away at all at this moment in time.
“These teams like City, Arsenal and Chelsea and even [Manchester] United and all the others are able to put together a run of games like we did.”
Slot emphasized the importance of focus and effort: “So we are not getting carried away at all and looking at it like you just said in terms of favourites or whatever.
“The players know what they have to do to win a game, and it’s a lot. If they could give 50 percent less and still win, maybe we would think we have 50 per cent extra in the tank and not need to give our maximum for results. But we know it has been a close call in many games.”
