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Can anyone stop Liverpool's march to the Premier League title?

Not Manchester City, that's for sure.

With a 2-0 win at the home of the four-time defending champions, Liverpool produced a performance worthy of champions to extend their lead to 11 points over Arsenal at the top of the table.

“Special” was how Mohamed Salah described the latest victory that left visiting fans chanting “We will win the league” after the final whistle.

City manager Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has accepted that the title is now Liverpool's to lose.

First-half goals from Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai set Arne Slot's side on course for a victory that leaves them in command of the title race after 27 games. Liverpool are now 20 points clear of fourth-placed City after completing a league double over the team that was once unbeatable under Guardiola.

While Slot has attempted to play down title talk with months still to go in the campaign, Liverpool's advantage is undeniable.

“What we know is that nobody saw us as title contenders at the start of the season. And I don’t think anyone in football would have expected City to be anywhere near the league leaders,” said the Dutch coach.

This was City's eighth league defeat this season and 14th in all competitions. The most games City have lost under Guardiola in any of his previous eight seasons was 12 in the 2019-20 campaign, the last time they failed to win the title.

Then, as now, Liverpool led the way, and right now the Merseyside club look set to win their 20th league title.

Meanwhile, City face a fight to secure a top-four place and return to the Champions League. League One next season. They are above fifth-placed Newcastle on goal difference and just two points ahead of eighth-placed Aston Villa.

“The fans can chant whatever they want. I think they have been chanting it for quite some time now, but we know as a team how hard we have to work for every win,” Slot said.

The FA Cup is now the only realistic trophy available to City this season, while Champions League qualification is the priority for a team that has dominated English football under Guardiola.

“If it doesn’t happen it’s because we weren’t good enough, not because we lack hunger and desire,” Guardiola said. “It’s a very tight race with four or five teams and Nottingham, Newcastle, Aston Villa are very good. It won’t be easy, but we will try.”

City started this season having won four consecutive league titles, an unprecedented record. Under Guardiola they have won six of the last seven. In total the club has 15 major trophies, including the Champions League as part of the treble in 2023.

CT