Liverpool

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Virgil van Dijk has admitted Sunday's win at Manchester City has given Liverpool fans "the belief" they will win the Premier League, but distanced himself from commenting on their title chances.

Reds supporters chanted "we're going to win the league" in the closing stages of the 2-0 win as the leaders moved 11 points clear after Arsenal's defeat by West Ham on Saturday.

"It was a big win but I think a couple of days ago there was noise about other things, and it could go the other way," Van Dijk said.

"It's down to us to just keep focusing on the game ahead of us. That's what we do and that's what I've told the boys as well.

"It's all about recovery now and being ready for Newcastle, which is a big test."

Liverpool host the Magpies, who they will also face in the Carabao Cup final in March, on Wednesday, while Arsenal face a tough test at third-placed Nottingham Forest.

"I don't look at others, as I've mentioned many times before," Van Dijk added. "We shouldn't. It's all about what you do yourself.

"We don't take our wins for granted. We go home, recover and [begin] the preparation for Newcastle. That's the only thing we have to do. Nothing else matters."

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Mohamed Salah is heading for a record-breaking season with Liverpool.

His goal on Sunday against Manchester City was his 30th of the campaign in all competitions, meaning he has now hit the 30 mark on five separate seasons for the club, a record he shares with Roger Hunt and Ian Rush.

Salah also provided the assist for Dominik Szoboszlai to score the second goal against Manchester City, his 21st of the season.

From an assist standpoint, the 32-year-old has already smashed his best season with the Reds out of the park - but he will have goals on his mind now.

His first year at Anfield in 2017-18 remains his best as a goalscorer. He found the net 44 times in all competitions with 32 of those goals coming in the Premier League alone.

He now needs just eight goals from the final 11 league fixtures to surpass his best season in the top flight, while 15 goals across all competitions would see him break that record of 44 goals.

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Liverpool.

The result moved the Reds 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

William: Liverpool's defence was spot on. They were consistently pushing City back and when City did break through them, Liverpool were switched on and stopped them. Then, their attacking was sublime and the goals were well deserved. It was a champions' performance.

Chris: Mohamed Salah understandably gets many of the plaudits, but Dominik Szoboszlai was equally impactful and ran strongly for the whole game. This wasn't the Manchester City of recent years, but they are still worthy opponents, and thus this victory should be celebrated.

Irene: A really solid performance. They all battled, even though my nerves were gone with Jeremy Doku on Trent Alexander-Arnold!

Ryan: Very resilient and professional display. Was impressed with how solid we were defensively and we did well to take advantage of our chances. We all know City are always a tough opponent - don't think we've won at Etihad Stadium for yonks - so a great achievement. Arne Slot deserves immense praise for how he set the team up and managed the game. Thought Ibou Konate and Virgil van Dijk were first class with Szoboszlai very impressive as well. Superb display!

Vinni: Stats are so irrelevant - this performance is maybe my favourite Liverpool display of the season. The Reds simply toyed with City, who looked mid-table at best. Only Doku earned his payslip. Arne Slot's team just gave them the ball, knowing they were inept. Meanwhile, Liverpool simply dangled the carrot of chance, but all the time aware they are (and actually might be) in a different league. The title is won. Vive Les Rouges.

Seevaramen: A great performance. But we still have to be vigilant because the title race is not over. Remember season 2013-14 under Brendan Rogers when we let the championship go against a weak Chelsea team? Liverpool were five points clear with five games to go. Best be on alert.

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot says there are still "lots of challenges ahead" this season, even after his side extended their lead at the top of the table to 11 points, but former Premier League striker Troy Deeney says supporters are not jumping the gun by chanting "we're going to win the league".

Speaking on Match of the Day 2, Deeney said he believes the title race has been done and dusted since Christmas.

"I don't see how Arsenal are going to close the gap without a striker, Manchester City are in disarray and Nottingham Forest are falling away.

"It seems like all the stars have aligned and it is there for Liverpool. Arne Slot knows what it is like to see these things through, so I just think there is no way they are going to lose this.

"They have lost one game all season - how are they going to lose four games now and allow Arsenal to get over the line? I just can't see it."

Two-time Premier League winner Joe Hart added: "He is going to have to balance the squad.

"You need that excitement and enthusiasm, but you also need Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Alisson saying: 'Just relax boys. There is a lot of work to be done and a lot of wins to be had.'

"Slot isn't going to let anything slide. He knows they can win the league if they keep playing like this for the rest of the season, but it isn't easy to play at that level for that long."

Catch up on Match of the Day 2 here

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Andy Robertson believes Liverpool's win at Manchester City on Sunday was "massive" and it was important for the Reds to leave Etihad Stadium with a league victory for the first time since 2015.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside after the game, he said: "It was a massive win for us, coming here is always difficult.

"We've not got a great track record here and we were keen to put that right, get the three points and extend the lead at the top.

"We managed to do that with a very good performance in the first half and a very professional performance in the second. I thought we defended so well - what a time to get the first clean sheet in what seems like a while.

"We've got three points, another tough game out the way and extended our lead at the top. It's been a good weekend for us."

As Liverpool fans inside the Etihad sang about the Reds winning the league, Robertson stressed it is important the players do not become complacent during the run-in.

"If we are allowing our fans to get carried away then we're doing something right. It's important they enjoy it. They have to get carried away, but it's important the players don't. It's important to get that balance," he added.

"There's still 11 games to go. We've got a nice lead but we have to keep winning games, make sure that lead stays where it is and that chant becomes real and not hypothetical.

"It's up to us to keep pushing in the changing room to allow them to sing that at the end of the season."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Liverpool are in the form and mood to wrap up a 20th English title after a commanding, ruthless performance to sink the side who have been their closest Premier League rivals for so long.

It was inevitable that Mohamed Salah would spearhead the Reds in this crucial game against Manchester City as he racked up more incredible numbers.

The first goal meant Salah has scored 30 or more goals in five separate seasons for Liverpool, a record he shares with Roger Hunt and Ian Rush.

Liverpool were efficiency personified, demonstrating how they have flourished under Arne Slot this season, while his City counterpart Pep Guardiola faces a huge rebuilding job.

Slot is too composed to call it, but with Liverpool holding an 11-point lead and having only lost one league game so far this season, he can surely sense the finishing line - even with 11 games left.

Crystal Palace are keen on signing Liverpool forwards Lewis Koumas and Ben Doak, who are on loan at Stoke and Middlesbrough respectively. (Alan Nixon – subscription required), external

Liverpool are hopeful of beating Arsenal to the signing of 18-year-old Rosenborg and Norway Under-21s midfielder Sverre Nypan. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

• Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea

• Newcastle 4-3 Nottingham Forest

• Man City 0-2 Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot, speaking to Sky Sports on how they beat City: "By scoring a set-piece. If you want to win a big game you need a neutral set-piece balance or to score one and not concede.

"We kept them away from big chances because we made sure they didn't create as much as they normally do."

On the title race: "Three days ago we had a draw at Villa and people told me we weren't in a good place and then three days later we win and it changes again. We work every single day to achieve this and it is three months of very hard work to maintain this.

"There is no secret. We are 11 points clear but Arsenal has one game in hand. The best attack we had didn't end in a goal. You always have to adapt to the challenge you have. A week ago we experienced how difficult Wolves at home was. There will always be difficult games, like today.

"It is easier for us to not get excited because we know what we have to put in. This result was more about defence than attack. It is normal for fanbases to be positive and it is important to understand why we are where we are."

Listen to more from Slot on BBC Sounds

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In Arne Slot's first season with the club, Liverpool have done the Premier League double over Manchester City for the first time since 2015-16 - Jurgen Klopp's first season in charge.

The Reds had just 33.9% possession - their lowest in a Premier League victory on record (since 2003-04).

Mohamed Salah's opener for Liverpool was his 16th away goal in the Premier League this season, equalling the record for most away goals in a single campaign (also 16 by Kevin Phillips in 1999-00 and Harry Kane in 2022-23).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Man City's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Two matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and we will bring you every kick.

• Newcastle v Nottingham Forest (14:00) - follow the action here

• Man City v Liverpool (16:30) - follow the action here

All kick-off times GMT

Full commentary of both games on BBC Radio 5 Live

Manchester City basically waved the white flag at the Bernabeu on Wednesday and, without Erling Haaland, lacked belief against Real Madrid from the off.

Let's be frank, it was a shambolic performance from Pep Guardiola's side, with a real lack of intensity.

Part of the pickle City found themselves in was down to the way Pep had set them up.

I don't know how many times Abdukodir Khusanov had played at right-back before, but it cannot be many, and the combination of Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan in central midfield alongside Nico Gonzalez just didn't work. They didn't have the legs to cope with Real.

It ended up being really disappointing as a contest. Real were always favourites but when City lose, you at least expect them to go down fighting.

Instead, it was over after less than five minutes. They never believed they could win and how many times have you said that about a Pep team?

Liverpool had a tricky time of it against Aston Villa in midweek but they must think they can get at this City side too.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Mohamed Salah's goal and assist against Aston Villa on Wednesday placed him level with Erling Haaland for the most goal contributions of any player since the Norwegian came to the Premier League - teeing up Sunday's clash between their sides almost perfectly.

As well as boasting more goals, Haaland is also more clinical than the Egyptian, with his 24.3% shot-conversion rate superior to Salah's 18.2%.

Most would say Salah is having the better 2024-25 so far, though. He needs only six assists in the remaining 12 matches to break the Premier League's single-season assist record and only needs nine goals or assists to surpass Andy Cole and Alan Shearer to have the most goal involvements in a top-flight campaign.

Who will come out on top at the Etihad on Sunday?

Listen to Man City v Liverpool live on BBC Radio 5 Live at 16:30 GMT on Sunday

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Earlier, we asked how well you remembered Liverpool's opening Premier League game of the season.

The match against Ipswich ended in a 2-0 win, with Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah scoring for the Reds.

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We asked for your views on how you felt about the Champions League last 16 draw against Paris St-Germain.

Here are some of your comments:

Alex: I'm fairly confident of meeting Arsenal in the semi-finals. However, a bit flat over the prospect of facing a good PSG side. I suppose every game is meant to be a challenge in the Champions League but finishing first in the league then getting PSG, while Villa scraped through and get Club Brugge… Something feels a bit off!

Joss: If it's a cup competition every team goes into the hat for a random draw for every round. This is just the typical Uefa trying to make as much money as possible. We'll still walk it though!

Oli: If you want to win the Champions League then you have to beat who's in front of you. If we leave this slight dip in form behind and regain decent form I think we have enough to pull through. Let's hope Ousmane Dembele doesn't have a stormer.

Tristam: PSG have not been great this year and lack any real superstars who can drag the rest up. Yes, they've beaten Man City, but so did Spurs.

Paul: At some point you have to play the best sides to win the Champions League and we have had to do this on six occasions. No team in Europe will relish playing Liverpool under the lights at Anfield - ask Barcelona!

Stephen: It's a tough draw, but at this stage it was always going to be. If you want to be the best you need to beat the best. If Liverpool start to play like they did in the group stages, then teams will be more worried about playing us.

Liverpool will face Paris St-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, travelling to the French capital for the first leg before welcoming the Ligue 1 champions to Anfield.

Former Reds defender Stephen Warnock tells The Football News Show that Arne Slot's side will "fancy their chances" against an indifferent PSG outfit, but need to be wary of their recent dip in form.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

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Liverpool haven't won any of their last five away games against French sides in Europe (D2 L3), with their last such victory coming at Marseille in September 2008.

On the other hand...

Arne Slot is unbeaten against French opposition in major European competition, winning two of his three matches and drawing the other.