Alexis Mac Allister makes bold title race claim as Liverpool go five points clear following win over Aston Villa

Liverpool have a firm hold on the title race, according to Alexis Mac Allister, who delivered a refreshingly assured post-match interview following their 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

Arne Slot's side extended their lead at the Premier League summit to five points on Saturday thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah.

Nunez opened the scoring for Liverpool, rounding Emiliano Martinez before finding the back of the net from a tight angle.

And with six minutes remaining, the in-form Salah scored his 10th goal of the season, dinking the ball over Martinez following a devastating counter-attack.

It was another commanding performance from the Reds, who pounced on Manchester City's latest 2-1 defeat to Brighton earlier in the day.

After the full-time whistle, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was asked if Liverpool have a hold on the title race.

“Yes, of course. We’re top of the league, five points ahead, that means something," he told TNT Sports.

“As I say, we’ll go step-by-step. If you asked me before the season started, I wouldn’t say that we were candidates to win the title but now, it looks like it. We’re going to keep working and keep trying to get better.”

The majority of players would have said it was too early, but Mac Allister is clearly convinced by Liverpool and their impressive start to the campaign.

He was also full of praise for Mohamed Salah, who has been linked with a move away from Anfield in recent weeks.

“He’s so important for this team – not just the team, the club as well. He’s a legend,” the Argentine added. “I’m happy for him and when you have him, you know he’s going to deliver and get the numbers. We’re happy he’s playing for us.”

Image credit: TNT Sports

In his post-match interview, Slot also applauded Salah's performance against Villa. "All our attackers have great numbers but Mo stands out in that aspect," he said, before praising Luis Diaz for his defensive work.

It was reported on Saturday that Salah's priority is to sign a new deal at Liverpool, but he will 'consider' a move to Paris Saint-Germain if contract talks collapse.