Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid CF - UEFA Champions League Final 2023/24
Ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger has refused to rule Liverpool out of the Premier League title race despite the heavy defeat to Manchester City.
A damning 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium left Liverpool just eighth in the table – eight points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.
Arne Slot’s side were widely tipped to retain the Premier League trophy following a sensational transfer window but the Reds have lost five of their last six league games.
Liverpool’s dismal run of form means they are below newly-promoted Sunderland and arch-rivals Manchester United going into the November international break.
Ex-England defender Micah Richards was among those to suggest Liverpool were out of the title race after they were thumped by Man City, but Wenger believes it is too early to make such claims.
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Wenger admits it is ‘very unlikely’ that Liverpool will be able to catch Arsenal from this position but refused to rule the champions out of the title race.
‘It is the first very big game in the Premier League,’ Wenger said on beIN SPORTS ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Etihad Stadum.
Manchester City v Liverpool - Premier League
Liverpool were outplayed by title rivals Manchester City (Picture: Getty)
‘Man City vs Liverpool is always a big game but there’s also the fact that you would not want to be in the shoes of the loser.
‘Liverpool have lost four games, they lose one more it’s five, can you still win the Premier League if you’ve lost five games by November? It’s very unlikely.
‘It’s not a game you want to lose if you want to win the Premier League. They can still have a great season in Europe but it’s hard to win the championship.’
Manchester City v Liverpool - Premier League
Pep Guardiola after Man City thumped Liverpool (Picture: Getty)
Asked if Liverpool would be out of the title race if they lost to Man City, Wenger said: ‘They are not out of the title race, they are not out of the title race because we are in November.’
Discussing Liverpool’s performance against Pep Guardiola’s side, Wenger added: ‘They look like they were tired from the last game they played against Real Madrid.
‘They were low on energy and even spirit-wise the second goal is a good example of them lacking commitment a little bit.
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‘Man City were the much better team, technically in small spaces they were much more subtle and Liverpool didn’t create a lot.’
While Liverpool left the Etihad Stadium disappointed and with their title hopes hanging by a thread, Manchester City now look best-placed to challenge Arsenal this season.
Sunday’s game was Guardiola’s 1,000th as a manager and Wenger was keen to congratulate the Man City boss on the milestone.
‘He is one of the greatest,’ said Wenger, who won three Premier League titles at Arsenal. ‘He has done extremely well.
‘Just to make 1,000 games in this job is already exceptional and he did it at the very, very, very top level.
‘He has created his own style and many managers now look at him as someone to follow. Congratulations to him and what he has achieved.’
Wenger’s former club Arsenal have not won the Premier League since his own title win in 2004. The Gunners have finished second for the past three seasons.
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