Slot focused on results rather than Liverpool's fading title hopes

Arne Slot was quick to dismiss Liverpool's chances of retaining the Premier League title after their loss to Manchester City, with improving their dismal form his only focus.

Following a league victory over Aston Villa and a Champions League triumph against Real Madrid, Liverpool were brought back down to earth by City on Sunday. 

On the occasion of his 1,00th game in management, Pep Guardiola led his side to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Etihad Stadium, with Jeremy Doku playing a starring role. 

Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 29th minute after seeing an early penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, though the Reds thought they had restored parity. 

A fine header from Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for an offside against Andy Robertson, and from there City dominated the match to move within four points of leaders Arsenal. 

Nico Gonzalez's deflected strike in first-half stoppage time made things comfortable before Doku capped a fine individual display with a stunning 63rd-minute finish. 

Liverpool have lost five of their 11 matches in the Premier League this season, the most defeats by a reigning champion at this stage since Leicester City in 2016-17 (also five).

Only Chelsea in 2015-16 (six) have ever lost more after 11 games of a Premier League season as champions.

Their latest setback leaves Slot's team eighth in the table ahead of the international break, with the Opta supercomputer handing them just an 8.9% chance of retaining the title. 

Slot, however, was keen to shift the focus away from silverware as he aims to regroup his battered and bruised squad upon their return from international duty. 

"It feels like there's too many [defeats]," Slot told reporters. "And the last thing I should speak about now is the title race.

"We should first focus on getting results before we can even think about that. The reality is that we are eighth now.

"One team is quite far ahead, although City is maybe four points now away from Arsenal. The rest is quite close.

"I said many times last season, many times, even when we were leading in the beginning, that the best way to judge the league table is, of course, after 38 games. 

"But the next best thing to judge is after 19 games, because then you all face the same opponents.

"Our first focus should be on getting results and the last thing we should focus on is on the title race."

But there was a controversial incident that could have seen the tide turn in Liverpool's favour when Van Dijk nodded Mohamed Salah's corner past Gianluigi Donnarumma. 

The Dutchman's header nestled into the bottom-right corner, but the goal was ruled out with Robertson adjudged to have been in front of Donnarumma while offside.

"It is difficult to give my view," Slot said of the incident. "It is obvious and clear that the wrong decision has been made, at least in my opinion.

"[Robertson] didn't interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do.

"Immediately after the game, someone showed me the goal that the same referee allowed – City against Wolves last season [John Stones in a 2-1 win for City].

"So it took the linesman 13 seconds to raise his flag to say it was offside. So there was clear communication.

"But as I said, that could have influenced the game in a positive way for us."

Liverpool's problems have been there for all to see, with four consecutive Premier League defeats seeing them lose pace with Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. 

The Reds have also now lost four consecutive top-flight away games for the first time since April 2012 under Kenny Dalglish (four).

Those four defeats in succession are more than Liverpool suffered in their first 21 away league games under Slot (W13 D5 L3).

But Slot insisted there are not a lot of problems to fix, while acknowledging his team must improve ahead of welcoming Nottingham Forest to Anfield on November 22. 

"I don't know if that is the situation. It has been a very good start to the week with a very bad end to the week," Slot said. 

"Today, I don't think, apart from that decision, that it was ever going to be our game.

"In general, they were the better team – we need to improve – but I didn't need this game to know this.

"I saw a team trying to come back into the game, but it wasn't enough today and that is clear. Last season, when we were eight points clear, it didn't feel like it was done already.

"We shouldn't talk about the number one position, we should focus on our performance, which needs to be better."