Mikel Arteta fires warning to Liverpool ahead of Man City clash

Mikel Arteta says Liverpool’s form could dip at any moment due to injuries (Arsenal)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has warned Liverpool that their eight-point advantage will be tricky to maintain for the remainder of the Premier League season.

Arne Slot’s side have made an excellent start to the Premier League campaign, winning 10 of their 12 games so far.

Liverpool are already eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City and nine in front of Arsenal, who are fourth in the table but level with third-placed Chelsea on 22 points.

Liverpool will extend their advantage this weekend if they beat City at Anfield on Sunday, although Slot has already warned his squad about Arsenal’s title collapse in March 2023 when Arteta’s side let an eight-point lead slip in their race with City.

Asked about Arsenal’s ability to overturn Liverpool’s advantage, Arteta replied: ‘Well, yes, we’ve been there.

Liverpool FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League — Liverpool are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester City (Getty)

‘And to sustain it for ten months is extremely difficult. Everything has to go your way.

‘And sadly, when you think that you have it, one day, plop, it collapses. And it can be through a result, it can be through injuries, it can be from other kinds of decisions. And it can happen in any moment. And we have to be ready for that.

‘But again, it’s something that we don’t control. What we can control is what we can do and do that our very best.’

Asked if he feels whether Arsenal are in the best position to catch up with Liverpool, Arteta replied: ‘I really believe in my team, yes.’

When asked if he had doubts over Manchester City’s quality, Arteta said: ‘No, because even with those injuries, they deserve to win every game. It’s simple.

‘You look at all the stats and everything that they do, they are always better than the opposition. They deserve to win the games. This is football. They deserve it. You don’t win it, okay, it’s for a reason.’

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