Arne Slot has reminded Liverpool that the league table doesn’t tell the full picture at present after the Reds stretched their lead over Arsenal to 16 points on Saturday.
It wasn’t a straightforward afternoon for Arne Slot’s side against the team sitting bottom of the division as a second-half fightback was needed to secure all three points at Anfield. Will Smallbone had controversially given Southampton the lead at the break before Darwin Nunez equalized early in the second period and then Mohamed Salah netted a brace of penalties.
It was a win that ensured there is now a 16-point gap between the leaders and second-place Arsenal. However, the Gunners have two games in hand, one of which comes against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Then, with Liverpool in Carabao Cup final action next weekend, Arsenal could reduce the gap further at home to Chelsea, before a two-and-a-half week pause in the Premier League schedule due to the international break and the FA Cup.
The league returns with a midweek round of fixtures at the start of April, with Arsenal’s home game against Fulham taking place a day before Liverpool hosts Everton in the second Merseyside derby of the season. Oddly, it means the Gunners will play three league matches before Liverpool is next in action.
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That’s not a fact that is lost on Arne Slot. “It’s 16 for now but that can be down to seven by the time we play Everton in a few weeks,” he told Match of the Day on Saturday after the Southampton game.
It’s also worth considering that just over two weeks ago Liverpool drew away to Aston Villa, a result that saw it move eight points clear of Arsenal having played a game more, essentially offering the opportunity for the London club to cut the lead to five. That chance wasn’t taken, but it’s a reminder of how quickly the table can change.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will hope to have key attackers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli back in April. The Gunners’ lack of firepower has been a real issue in recent weeks with Mikel Moreno forced to play as an unorthodox striker.
