Mo Salah’s comments after Liverpool’s win at the Etihad indicate they won’t become complacent in the title race.

Mo Salah remains grounded despite Liverpool’s strong position at the top of the Premier League, as reflected in his comments following their 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday.

Liverpool’s first league win at the Etihad since 2015 extended their lead at the summit to 11 points, leading many pundits to suggest the title race is all but decided. Traveling Reds fans echoed this sentiment, passionately chanting, “We’re gonna win the league” during stoppage time. However, neither manager Arne Slot nor his players are making any bold proclamations just yet.

Salah acknowledges title race pressure

Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Salah relished the achievement of completing a league double over the reigning four-time champions. However, he admitted that Liverpool has struggled to handle the pressure of leading the title race in previous seasons.

“It’s special, to be fair, especially when you’re in the title race,” Salah said. “It’s incredible. They have won four in a row now. It’s an incredible team. Hopefully, we just keep calm because sometimes the pressure at the end can get to us, so hopefully, we just keep calm and just play our game and try to win each game.”

Liverpool must focus on their own performances

While Salah’s comments may sound like standard public diplomacy, they hold weight given Liverpool’s past struggles under pressure.

The Reds were nine points ahead in the 2018/19 season before narrowly missing out to City, and just last year, they led the table in April but faded out of contention by the month’s end following a poor run of results.

This season, however, there are two key differences: Liverpool’s advantage has stretched into double digits (though Arsenal have a game in hand), and Guardiola’s City are not in the immediate title picture, with the Gunners lacking the same proven pedigree in title races.

Despite this, Liverpool knows that failing to secure the title from this position would be a monumental collapse. The key for Salah and his teammates is to remain focused on their own performances, ensuring they take care of business professionally rather than worrying about Arsenal’s results.