Arne Slot has admitted Liverpool's Premier League title defence is effectively over after just 11 games, following a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad. The loss leaves the reigning champions eighth in the table, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Liverpool have now lost five of their last six matches, and Slot conceded that his side have dropped too many points to be considered serious contenders. 'It feels too many,' he said. 'The last thing I should speak about is the title race. We are eighth now, and one team is quite far ahead.'
Crucially, City outclassed their rivals from start to finish, with goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku securing a comfortable victory. The win lifted Pep Guardiola's side to second, four points behind Arsenal, and provided the perfect present for the City manager on his 1,000th match in charge.
Guardiola praised his players for their performance against the champions. 'My players gave me a good present with this performance,' he said. 'I'm proud to do it here in Manchester with my city. For me, it has been so special to make 1,000 games in front of my family and especially against Liverpool.'
