Liverpool moved closer to the Premier League title after beating Southampton to go 16 points clear
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Updated 11:39, 09 Mar 2025
Arne Slot looks on from the stand, while he serves a two game touchline ban during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on March 08, 2025
(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
It might be too early to call Liverpool Premier League champions-elect, but at this point, it's certainly a safe bet. The Reds moved 16 points clear of second placed Arsenal on Saturday after a 3-1 win over Southampton.
And while the Gunners do have two games in hand to potentially reduce that margin to 10, time is running out for Mikel Arteta's men to catch Liverpool as the season enters its final straight.
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Indeed, it was a pivotal weekend last time out when an injury-ravaged Arsenal slipped to a 1-0 loss at home to West Ham United on Saturday, before Liverpool produced a superb performance to beat an out-of-sorts Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
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The Gunners then followed up with a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, dropping two more points in their efforts to chase down Arne Slot's runaway leaders.
The Reds then went first this weekend, beating bottom club Southampton at Anfield on Saturday, with Arsenal taking on Manchester United later on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford.
The result means Slot and his side have an 16-point cushion at the summit, having played two games more than their title rivals.
And the win will have even the most cautious of supporters looking to their calendars as to when Liverpool could finally clinch what looks to be an increasingly probable Premier League crown.
As things stand, the most points Arsenal can achieve is 87. That would account for them winning their last 11 games in succession, including a victory at Anfield three games from the end of the campaign.
Liverpool could surpass that total in six matches' time, away at Chelsea on May 3. If that transpired then Arsenal could in fact be lining up to give the Reds a guard of honour the following week on May 10. The Gunners are dealing with an injury crisis in attack and will hope that their 7-1 Champions League victory at PSV Eindhoven gives them the confidence to go on an incredible run to catch the 19-time champions.
The week before the clash with Arsenal, Slot takes his side to Stamford Bridge, while before that they face Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, meaning other rivals could also face the ignominy of welcoming the new champions onto the pitch.
Arsenal will actually play three times in the Premier League before Liverpool are next in action. They travel to United, then host Chelsea and Fulham before Slot and his team play the Merseyside derby against Everton on April 2.
Liverpool then travel to Fulham, face West Ham United at Anfield and go to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium before April is out.