Liverpool Seize Early Premier League Lead, But Mac Allister Stresses Caution
Liverpool have taken an early grip on the Premier League title race, though midfielder Alexis Mac Allister admits he didn't see them as contenders at the start of the season.
Arne Slot’s side secured a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield, capitalizing on Manchester City's 2-1 defeat to Brighton. The results put Liverpool five points clear at the top, with Pep Guardiola’s team now on a four-game losing streak.
"If we are five points clear, it definitely means something," Mac Allister said. "But we have to take it step by step. If you asked me before the season started, I wouldn't have said we were contenders, but now it looks like we are."
Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp in the summer, has overseen a record-breaking start with nine wins from 11 Premier League matches and 15 victories from 17 games in all competitions. However, the Dutch manager is keeping expectations in check.
“We’re really pleased that most of our squad has stayed fit through this challenging period,” Slot remarked. “But looking at the upcoming fixtures, they are tough. It's going to be a challenging season overall. The margins are small, and while we have a lead, it’s a narrow one.”
Experienced Liverpool Squad Capable of Sustaining Title Challenge
Premier League Standings: Liverpool Lead by Five Points Heading into International Break
Liverpool are aiming to capture their first Premier League title since the 2019-20 season, fielding several key players from that championship-winning squad in their victory against Aston Villa, including star forward Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian international continued his impressive form by scoring his fourth consecutive league goal, securing Liverpool's second in their 2-0 win at Anfield. This latest goal cements Salah's status as the first player in Europe's top five leagues this season to reach double figures in both goals (10) and assists (10).
Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman believes the Reds' experienced squad can maintain their title challenge. "This group has been through long campaigns; many have won both the Premier League and Champions League," McManaman told TNT Sports. "If they stay fit and consistently use their core starting XI and key substitutes, they can definitely go all the way."
The statistics are promising for a repeat of their 2019-20 triumph.
Image Caption: Arne Slot aims to replicate Liverpool’s title-winning success from Jurgen Klopp's era four years ago
After Liverpool's win over Aston Villa and Manchester City's defeat to Brighton, Opta's League Prediction model now gives Liverpool a 59.3% chance of finishing first in the Premier League. This is a remarkable jump from the 5.1% pre-season odds, which ranked them behind City (82%) and Arsenal (12%). For the first time this season, Manchester City are no longer the favorites to win the league.
The parallels with Liverpool’s triumphant 2019-20 season are striking. This year, they have accumulated 28 points from their first 11 Premier League matches, just shy of the 31 points they had at the same stage during their title-winning campaign. Back then, they held a six-point lead over Manchester City; this season, they are five points ahead. That 2019-20 team went on to win the league by a dominant 18-point margin.
Arne Slot has made an impressive start as Liverpool’s manager, collecting 28 points from his first 11 league games (W9 D1 L1), matching the Premier League record held by Guus Hiddink during his stint at Chelsea.
### **Manchester City: The Hunters Once Again**
While Liverpool are in a strong position, fans know the title race is far from over. Manchester City have dominated the Premier League, winning six of the last seven titles, including the past four in a row. They've shown resilience as the chasing team, most notably overcoming a four-point deficit to Arsenal two seasons ago and eventually finishing five points clear at the top.
City have proven their mettle in previous seasons, such as in 2020-21, when they trailed Chelsea by three points after 11 games. They responded with a 12-match winning streak, ultimately finishing 13 points ahead by the end of January.
As Manchester City’s fans often chant, "we fight 'til the end," and history shows they are more than capable of turning the tide in a title race.
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