Arteta warns Liverpool that form will be ‘difficult’ to sustain ahead of Man City clash

Mikel Arteta said Liverpool's eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League will be “extremely difficult” to maintain ahead of their meeting with Manchester City on Sunday.

Liverpool impressed under new head coach Arne Slot, winning 17 of their first 19 games under the Dutchman in all competitions (D1 L1) this season.

Slot's side welcome Pep Guardiola's out-of-form City to Anfield this weekend knowing a win would put them 11 points clear of the reigning top champions.

Arsenal sit in fifth place ahead of their meeting with West Ham in Saturday's late kick-off and are nine points behind Liverpool after 12 games.

But the Gunners are in a similar position to Liverpool, where they held an eight-point lead over City last season before losing the title despite spending 248 days of the 2023/24 season at the top.

“We have been there and it is extremely difficult to keep this up for 10 months,” Arteta said. “One day, when you think you have it, one day it collapses.

“It could be a consequence, due to injuries or other decisions. And it could happen at any time. We have to be ready for that.

“But it's something we can't control. What we can control is being at our best.”

Asked if Arsenal can beat Liverpool this season, Arteta replied: “I really believe in my team, yes.”

Another big month ahead pic.twitter.com/AmBdt5MB56

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 30, 2024

Ahead of this weekend's blockbuster match between Liverpool and City, the Reds will be buoyed by their impressive Champions League victory over Real Madrid in midweek.

Slot's side remain the only side in the league with a 100% record, while they also top the table in the Premier League with 10 wins from their first 12 games.

Liverpool's only defeat so far this season was a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

They have since won seven of their eight league games (D1), with that draw coming against Arsenal in the Emirates, scoring at least twice in seven of those matches.

And Arteta believes his team will have to be perfect if the Reds are to maintain their current form, starting against London rivals West Ham.

“If they go on then that's for sure, given the numbers they're producing and the number of games they're winning,” Arteta added.

“The focus is on us to above all maintain the consistency and performance that gives us the right to win games, and maintain availability in the squad. This is a long term.”

“Winning increases energy and our confidence. We've had two big wins for us and now it's about consistency and getting that momentum going, going further against a good opponent. [West Ham] and try to replicate the performance to win the game.”

Arteta also suggested that Guardiola's side are not out of the race yet, despite not winning their last six games in all competitions (D1 L5).

And Anfield has been a difficult area for the Citizens in recent years. They have won just one of their last 21 Premier League away games against Liverpool (D7 L13), beating them 4-1 in February 2021. They have not won on Merseyside with fans in attendance since May 2003 (2-1).

But City have been hampered by several injuries to key first-team players this season, with Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, John Stones, Oscar Bobb, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish all suffering recent fitness problems.

“Even with those injuries, they deserved to win every game,” Arteta said. “If you look at their stats and everything they do, they have always been better than the opposition.

“This is football. You earn it and you don't win it, but there is a reason for that.”