Liverpool opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah struck in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool took full advantage of Manchester City’s latest defeat at Brighton earlier on Saturday to surge further clear of the champions.
The Reds failed to hit the heights of their second-half humiliation of German champions Bayer Leverkusen in a 4-0 Champions League win in midweek.
But Arne Slot’s men were again defensively solid to protect a sixth clean sheet in 11 league games and take a firm grip on the title race.
“We have a margin but it is small. Many challenges to come for us,” said Slot.
Liverpool’s stunning start to life under Slot has made light of Jurgen Klopp’s departure and midfielder Alexis Mac Allister conceded he was not sure if the Reds could challenge for the title.
Mac Allister said: “If we are top of the league by five points then it means something.
“If you asked me before the season started I would not say we were candidates but now it looks like we are.”
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Villa’s fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions sees Unai Emery’s men slip to eighth, but only one point off third-placed Nottingham Forest.
Emery said after the game: “When they scored the second goal the match more or less was finished, but until that second goal we had chances to score.
“It was not enough to get points here but I am positive that we are moving forward.”
The Anfield crowd was fired up by news of City’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton and inspired a fast start from the home side.
Liverpool’s 15th win in 17 games since Slot took charge moved them into a commanding position in the title race.
Arsenal are 10 points adrift of the leaders ahead of a daunting trip to in-form Chelsea on Sunday.
An out-of-sorts City are next to visit Anfield on December 1 after Liverpool visit bottom-of-the-table Southampton when Premier League action returns following an international break.
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