In the build-up to Liverpool’s trip to Manchester City, much was made of the supposed mid-season slump suffered by the league leaders. Concerns about their form arose following draws in tough away fixtures at Everton and Aston Villa, along with a home victory over Wolves. Many assumed Arsenal would win against West Ham, and the prevailing narrative suggested that if City could manage a win or even a draw at the Etihad, the title race would tighten significantly. With Arsenal’s game in hand and an upcoming clash at Anfield, hopes were high for a dramatic end to the season.
However, hindsight has revealed that much of this speculation was simply wishful thinking. Liverpool’s so-called blip turned out to be little more than an overblown narrative. Meanwhile, Arsenal, despite the understandable caveat that they are missing key attacking players, undermined their own title challenge with a damaging home loss to a similarly depleted West Ham side.
Unburdened by external pressure, Liverpool arrived at the Etihad knowing that a victory would put them 11 points clear of their London rivals. Despite having only 33% possession, they cruised to a comfortable win. Reflecting on the contrasting reactions to recent results, their manager noted how quickly perceptions shift, emphasizing that just days before, critics questioned their form following the draw at Villa. Now, with Arsenal’s defeat and their own triumph, only a historic collapse would deny them the title.
The challenge for Liverpool now is maintaining focus. Former players highlighted the importance of ensuring standards do not drop, with squad members and leadership keeping everyone sharp. While it’s vital to take every opponent seriously, expecting professionals to approach a fixture against lower-ranked sides with the same level of concern as a clash against Europe’s elite is unrealistic.
The result at the Etihad reinforced Liverpool’s dominance and left their nearest challengers needing a miracle to stay in the race. With momentum firmly on their side, their charge towards the title appears increasingly inevitable.
