Arne Slot sees no glimmer of a Premier League title with 10 games still to go

LONDON – If the joyous fans at Anfield on Feb 26 celebrated as if they were witnessing an English Premier League title in the making, neither Liverpool manager Arne Slot nor his players were getting carried away in what has been an outstanding season, but one that is far from over.

The league leaders climbed 13 points clear at the top of the league table with their 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in driving rain that could not dampen the celebratory mood of their supporters.

The Reds have now played 28 matches, one more than second-placed Arsenal who drew 0-0 at Nottingham Forest.

No matter how you do the maths, Liverpool are clearly in the driving seat. But when asked when he might see a glimmer of light, Slot said: “It’s still a long way to go, 10 games, and we have the (League Cup) final of course and two very important games against Paris Saint-Germain, so we’re not focused on the long term.

“And now I think the players have two days off, so Saturday we go back and focus on Paris Saint-Germain more than we focus on the league table in the Premier League.”

Liverpool, who topped the Champions League table after the eight-game league phase, head to Paris to play PSG in the first leg of their last-16 tie on March 5.

Slot’s men have been a picture of consistency, undefeated in 27 of their 28 league matches this season.

The victory over Newcastle was their 32nd in 43 games across all competitions, the most victories by a team in one of Europe’s top-five leagues. It came courtesy of goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, and the former agreed with Slot that there was no room for breathing easy yet.

“After mathematically they (Arsenal) do not have any chance to get us, (only then we can relax). We’re really happy that we are 13 points clear, but we just focus on ourselves. We have Champions League coming up, so we have to focus on that too. We are looking forward to staying at the top of the table,” the midfielder said.

Liverpool’s latest win was even more remarkable considering the fact that Slot was not on the touchline to personally lead his team. The Dutchman had to make do with a seat in the stands after being handed a two-match ban for his red card in a fiery Merseyside derby at Everton earlier in February.

Defeat leaves Newcastle down in sixth, three points adrift of the top four. The sides will meet again in the League Cup final on March 16 and Eddie Howe believes the Magpies showed they can at least compete with Liverpool.

“I don’t think it was a bad performance in any way but, with the two goals, we could have done much better,” he said.

“Both were passes into our box that we did not get tight enough to their midfielders, which is frustrating really. We had opportunities and moments, but we were not clinical enough when those few chances did come our way.”

The Magpies were dealt a huge blow before a ball was kicked as Alexander Isak, the club’s leading scorer this season with 21 goals in all competitions, was ruled out due to a groin injury.

It took Liverpool just 11 minutes to go in front when Luis Diaz cut the ball back for Szoboszlai to roll in, although questions will be asked over Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope’s poor attempt to keep it out.

Once the Reds did get the second just after the hour mark, there was never any doubt over the outcome.

While the league’s top scorer Mohamed Salah was not able to add to his 25 goals on Feb 26 – ending an eight-game scoring streak – he did still have a telling contribution with his league-leading 17th assist of the season. The Egyptian sucked in three Newcastle defenders before dishing the ball out to Mac Allister who fired high into Pope’s top right-hand corner.

Being 2-0 up, the Liverpool fans struck up multiple choruses of “We’re going to win the league” towards the end of the match. Even in the closing days of February, little doubt remains as who will be crowned champions in May, if not before then. REUTERS, AFP