Arsenal on standby as Mohamed Salah twist threatens to shake up Liverpool Premier League title race

It is springtime, and for the third season running, Arsenal find themselves preparing for a Premier League title race run-in. The only difference is this time it is Liverpool they must topple.

Manchester City fell out of the running midway through the season, though Arne Slot's side have emerged to take their place. Currently top with 70 points, the Gunners are the closest challengers with a tally of 58.

Exiting the March international break, there are nine rounds of matches to go. So, while Mikel Arteta must ensure his players perform their duties, there is an element of wishing the league leaders begin to crumble under their own pressure.

To boost hopes in North London, Liverpool's fixtures aren't exactly easy. Their return to action on Wednesday comes in the form of a Merseyside derby against Everton, and before the season is up, they must face Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal themselves.

Also, there are matters of major distractions in the form of player contracts to settle.

One of those with doubtful futures beyond the season's end is top goal contributor Mohamed Salah, and on the eve of the Reds return to Premier League football, a shock claim has emerged.

In a fresh report from The Telegraph, it is explained how Salah - who is eligible to negotiate a pre-contract with foreign clubs - is giving priority to staying with Liverpool beyond the end of the 2024/25 season, though this has still not deterred his suitors in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Pro League chiefs are therefore confident that the Egyptian is still considering a move to the Gulf state, with a senior source insistent that Salah 'remains interest'.

In Saudi Arabia, the country's Public Investment Fund have ownership of four clubs, one of those being Al-Hilal, who are competing at this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.

It is said that it would be that club's hope to secure Salah's arrival before the tournament starts in mid-June, though with his Liverpool contract only expiring on June 30 as things stand and his commitment to first secure new terms at Anfield, this Saudi Arabian hope is all but dashed.

Regardless, the Reds still find themselves in this precarious position, and there must be grounds for a suggestion towards hope of signing Salah elsewhere.

Just as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are in position to leave as things stand, these contract situations threaten to act as a major distraction for the Premier League title race run-in.

Also Arsenal, taking a wider view of future Premier League title battles, can live in hope of their main rivals being drastically weakened before the next challenge begins.