Liverpool in Control: ‘There’s No Way Back’ for Arsenal in Title Race | OneFootball

Liverpool Have All But Wrapped Up the Premier League Title

Liverpool Take Charge in Premier League Title Race

Liverpool’s jubilant supporters didn’t wait for the final whistle at the Etihad Stadium to declare what is now inevitable. With just over a minute left on the clock, their voices rang through the air, cutting through the silence of the emptying stands: “We’re going to win the league.”

And they are absolutely right. Liverpool will win the Premier League.

Head coach Arne Slot’s transition from Jurgen Klopp has been seamless, and now he is on the verge of delivering the prize that Liverpool’s legendary managers—Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, and Joe Fagan—held above all others. The “bread and butter” of football, as they called it.

Their 2-0 win over Manchester City, coupled with Arsenal’s home defeat to West Ham, all but ends any speculation. No need to dance around the subject—this title race is as good as over.

The Etihad has been the stage for many title celebrations in recent years, but this time it wasn’t City’s turn. Instead, it was Liverpool’s fans chanting “hand it over”, making it clear that the trophy is heading to Anfield.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool’s Commanding Lead Looks Unassailable

Mathematically, the race isn’t over. Football is unpredictable. But it’s not that unpredictable. A relentless Liverpool side, having lost only one league game all season—a shock defeat at home to Nottingham Forest—won’t squander an 11-point lead with only 11 matches remaining.

Seven of those games will be played at Anfield, where Liverpool are nearly untouchable. Meanwhile, Arsenal, their closest competitors, hold a game in hand that now seems almost irrelevant.

Even if Liverpool stumble—unlikely given their consistency—Arsenal would need near-perfection. And history suggests that’s a step too far for Mikel Arteta’s side, who have yet to prove they can sustain a title push under the most intense pressure.

Slot Downplays the Lead, But History Says Otherwise

Despite the overwhelming advantage, Slot remains cautious.

“In every other league, having a lead like this would be very comfortable, but not in this league,” he said. “There is a challenge in every game. We even saw Plymouth Argyle challenging us in the FA Cup. The fans can sing what they want, but we know how hard we have to work.”

He has reason to be measured. There have been meltdowns in Premier League history, but not many at this stage of the season. The closest comparison dates back to 1997-98, when Manchester United let an 11-point lead slip to Arsenal. But the key difference? United had already lost five games at that point, proving they were vulnerable. Liverpool, on the other hand, have only suffered one league defeat.

Photo: IMAGO

And let’s be clear—Arsenal in 1998, under Arsène Wenger, were a vastly superior side to the current squad chasing Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola knows a title-winning team when he sees one. He declined to officially crown Liverpool, but his reaction spoke volumes. After the final whistle, he warmly congratulated Slot and sought out every Liverpool player for a handshake. That tells you everything.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart summed it up while speaking to BBC Sport:

“There’s no way back for Arsenal in the title race. They can do what they want, they can win every game from here, but I still don’t think it will be enough.”

Liverpool’s Dominance Backed by Cold, Hard Numbers

If anyone still doubts Liverpool’s grip on this season, the statistics obliterate any remaining uncertainty. Slot’s men lead in every key metric that matters.

And at the heart of it all? Mohamed Salah.

Photo: IMAGO

The Egyptian forward once again proved his worth, scoring his 30th goal of the season before setting up Dominik Szoboszlai to seal the victory before half-time. Salah has now hit 30 goals or more in five separate seasons for Liverpool, joining an elite club alongside Roger Hunt and Ian Rush.

He’s also contributed 21 assists, meaning he has been directly involved in an astonishing 51 goals before the end of February. That’s the definition of world-class.

Beating City at the Etihad—a team that has twice snatched the title from Liverpool on the final day—makes this victory even sweeter. Before this, Liverpool had won just one of their previous 15 league games away to City. This win erases those past disappointments.

Expect the rest of the season to feel like a victory march for Liverpool.

Business-Like Approach Seals the Win Over Manchester City

Liverpool may not be the all-guns-blazing, heavy-metal force they were under Klopp, but Slot has added a level of ruthless efficiency that has made them an even more formidable unit.

The champions-elect saw just 33.9% possession in their win over City—the lowest for any victorious Liverpool side since Opta started collecting stats in 2003-04. Yet, they remained in total control.

City dominated possession and had more attempts—16 shots to Liverpool’s 8—but it never felt like Liverpool were in trouble. Goalkeeper Alisson barely had a meaningful save to make, while City’s attacks floundered against a red wall of resilience.

Photo: IMAGO

Hart summed it up perfectly on Match of the Day:

“That was a proper business-like performance from Liverpool. They looked like they had a contingency plan for any threat—well, the minimal threat—that City posed. They executed that really well, then everyone else took care of their own business where they thought they could dominate. They were completely in control and comfortable everywhere on the pitch.”

Liverpool’s approach was calculated, composed, and champion-like. Even as City saw more of the ball, they could do nothing with it. When Liverpool attacked, they were direct, efficient, and devastating.

It was the perfect performance from a team that knows they are on the brink of glory.

So, is it premature to say Liverpool are champions? Not at all. It’s now a case of when, not if, the red ribbons will be tied to the Premier League trophy.

Start the car—or in this case, prepare the open-top bus.