Liverpool manager Arne Slott warned his runaway league leaders cannot afford to rest on their laurels in a division as competitive as the Premier League, citing Manchester City as an example of the dangers that await any team.
After an early scare, the Reds eased to within one 3-1 win over Leicester City at Anfield on Boxing Day. That victory – and more points dropped for Chelsea – helped Liverpool open a seven-point lead at the Premier League summit.
Liverpool have lost just once during Slott's great start to life on Merseyside, but the experienced Dutchman was not planning any trophy parade just yet.
“If you've been in this game for a long time, like these players and I have, you know you don't watch it 20 games before the end,” Slott told reporters. after Thursday's win. “There are still many challenges ahead of you. A few months ago we were one point behind Manchester City and look what has happened there. Injuries, suspensions, bad luck – it can happen to anyone.”
While Liverpool lead the division, City are back in the depths of seventh place. A gloomy one 1-1 draw with Everton on Boxing Day extended the reigning champions' winless run and left Pep Guardiola searching extensive and expensive reinforcements in January.
“It's too early to celebrate,” Slot continued. “You've seen all these games and I don't think there was an easy win. It shows you how difficult it is to win if all your players are available. We just have to take it one game at a time. “
This was the 21st season Liverpool have spent Christmas Day top of the table. However, the Reds have only finished on top on 11 of those 20 previous occasions. Mohamed Salah knows the pain of a post-holiday slump better than most after playing for two Liverpool sides that fell off the pace in 2018 and 2020.
After adding the third and final goal against Leicester, Salah claimed that this year “feels different”. Whether that proves to be the case or not, Slot is not moving forward.