Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has dismissed any notion of Manchester City’s recent struggles derailing their title challenge, insisting the reigning Premier League champions are bound to bounce back.

The Reds capitalised on City's slip-up with a 3-2 victory over Southampton, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League table to eight points. City's surprising 4-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday marked their third consecutive league defeat, adding to their five-match losing streak in all competitions.

Despite City's form, Salah remains cautious. After Liverpool fought back to secure a vital win against Southampton, he acknowledged the resilience of Pep Guardiola's side. Liverpool had initially taken the lead through Dominik Szoboszlai, but the Saints responded with goals from Adam Armstrong and Mateus Fernandes. Salah’s second-half brace was crucial in securing the points for Liverpool and maintaining their advantage ahead of their showdown with City next weekend.

"It's great; hopefully, we can keep going in the right direction," Salah told Sky Sports following Liverpool's hard-fought win. "We have a game against them coming up. Hopefully, we win so we can go further ahead – like 11 points."

Acknowledging City's title credentials, he added: "Of course, Man City are our main title rivals. They’ve had a bad run, but they’ll strike back. They have a great coach and great players. Hopefully, we can beat them to increase the gap."

Before the much-anticipated title clash, Liverpool will turn their attention to the Champions League, hosting Real Madrid at Anfield. Meanwhile, City will look to end their disappointing run when they face Feyenoord, the former club of Tottenham manager Arne Slot, in their midweek European fixture.

This pivotal period could significantly shape the outcome of the Premier League title race, as Liverpool aim to maintain their momentum and City seek to rediscover their form.