Arsenal must make Premier League history to beat Liverpool in title race amid Man City hope

The challenge facing Arsenal in the Premier League title race cannot be understated. The Gunners trail Liverpool by nine points in the table after Arne Slot's side came from behind to beat Southampton on Sunday.

After dominating for much of the first half, it was a surprise to see Liverpool level at the break at St Mary's. Dominik Szoboszlai had opened the scoring after capitalising on a mistake at the back to curl home, but the hosts equalised as Adam Armstrong first missed a penalty before converting the rebound.

And it was far from easy going in the second half for the visitors, as they fell behind thanks to a Mateus Fernandez goal after an incisive counterattack. But it was not to last for the Saints, with Mohamed Salah the beneficiary after another mistake at the back, this time from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

And the Egyptian star made it 10 goals in 12 Premier League games this season from the penalty spot after a handball, giving his side all three points in the process.

Liverpool now have an eight-point led at the top after Manchester City lost their fifth game in a row in all competitions, this one the largest home defeat of Pep Guardiola's career as his side fell to a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal's north London rivals Spurs. And the Gunners are a point further back, underscoring just how far a lead Slot's side have built up.

In fact, at this stage of a Premier League season, only three teams have ever lead the table by eight points - and all three of them have gone on to win the title. So if Mikel Arteta does want to be lifting the title in May, his side are going to have to make history by overturning such a large lead.

They will be hoping that begins next weekend when they head to West Ham in Saturday's late kick-off, before Liverpool host Manchester City on Sunday. While a win for Guardiola's team would keep them above the Gunners, it would also help to narrow the gap at the top of the table - something urgently needed even at this early stage of the season.

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