Salah Highlights Tough Challenge as Liverpool Prepare for Manchester City | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah Talks Leadership and Facing Man City

Liverpool Face Title Rivals in Crucial Etihad Clash

Liverpool’s upcoming trip to the Etihad Stadium is shaping up to be another defining moment in their title challenge. Arne Slot’s side sit at the top of the Premier League table with a 17-point advantage over Manchester City, albeit having played one game more. However, Mohamed Salah remains wary of the threat posed by Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions.

Speaking to LFC ahead of the match, Salah outlined the challenge Liverpool will face, stating: “It’s going to be tough. We play Man City away so they are always going to be the favourite to win in their home, but we’ll go there and give it a try.”

Photo: IMAGO

The rivalry between Liverpool and City has been the Premier League’s defining contest in recent years, delivering some of the most enthralling football of the modern era. Salah acknowledged City’s quality and their sustained excellence under Guardiola, adding: “City will always be City. They have one of the greatest managers ever and they have great players – they have played at the top level for many years, they won everything in the club.”

Salah’s Evolution as Liverpool’s Leader

At 32, Salah continues to raise his game, leading the Premier League in both goals (24) and assists (15) this season. His consistency in front of goal has put him on the verge of surpassing Gordon Hodgson in third place on Liverpool’s all-time top scorers list.

Reflecting on his development, Salah spoke about his growing leadership role: “When you are one of the senior players in the group you have to care not just on the field. In the past, when I came here in the first year, I probably was thinking just about the field and playing, and not about the players.”

His relationship with teammates has deepened, with Salah detailing how he and Virgil van Dijk had early discussions after their recent match against Aston Villa, discussing areas for improvement. “We were just talking about the result [against Villa], that we are not happy and what we can improve and what we can change. So, things change with time.”

Photo: IMAGO

Adapting His Game to Stay at the Top

Salah’s development has not just been physical but also tactical. His game has evolved to integrate more with his teammates, as he explained: “I think I am trying to study more their game and not just my game. In the past I think I used to just know my game and they needed to adapt to me.”

Now, Salah takes a more analytical approach, observing his teammates during training and reviewing matches to refine his playmaking. His 20 assists this season underline his progression from a goal-scoring machine to a more complete forward, capable of unlocking defences through vision and awareness.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Salah’s words reflect both confidence and realism. Manchester City away has long been one of the toughest assignments in football, and despite Liverpool’s strong form, no one underestimates the challenge. City remain an elite force, capable of winning games in any situation, and Guardiola’s tactical nous ensures they are always a formidable opponent.

What stands out most about Salah’s interview, however, is his maturity. He is no longer just Liverpool’s primary goal threat—he is their leader, a player who takes responsibility both on and off the pitch. His discussions with Van Dijk about team improvements and his evolving understanding of his teammates’ playing styles show just how much his game has developed.

For all of Salah’s personal accolades, his biggest ambition remains another league title. A win at the Etihad would send a powerful message in the title race. It is a match that could define the season, and with Salah in this kind of form, Liverpool fans have every reason to believe they can come away with a result.