• Liverpool face tricky trips to Villa and City this week
• Seven of team’s final 11 games to be played at Anfield

Arne Slot believes that Liverpool can secure a significant advantage over Arsenal in their next two games and that Anfield is then primed to shape the destiny of the title race.

The league leaders would establish a 10-point lead over Mikel Arteta’s challengers with victory at Aston Villa on Wednesday. That awkward away assignment is followed by a visit to Manchester City on Sunday. Arsenal took four points from their trips to Villa Park and the Etihad Stadium and Slot believes Liverpool’s position will be even stronger if they equal or better that return. Failing that, the head coach will take consolation in the Anfield factor, with seven of his team’s final 11 league games at home.