Manchester United legend Paul Scholes claims that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola “will be more worried” about Liverpool than Arsenal in the battle for the Premier League title.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Scholes said that the Reds’ squad depth, particularly in midfield, will mean they can sustain their challenge for top spot:
“Although they [Liverpool] have still got six again [midfielders], any three of the six could play who can be brilliant, [Alexis] Mac Allister didn’t play at the weekend – how good has he been?.”
“I think Liverpool’s squad is better than Arsenal’s. I think Guardiola will be more worried about Liverpool than he is about Arsenal.”
City can potentially go top this weekend
With Arsenal and Liverpool facing each other on Sunday, Guardiola‘s men know they can take first place with a victory against Southampton this afternoon.
They may only hold the position temporarily but, with Liverpool not guaranteed to secure all three points at the Emirates, the Cityzens could retain top spot beyond this weekend.
Who is the favourite to win the Premier League title?
Rodri’s injury had briefly dropped the reigning champions behind Arsenal as frontrunners at the bookmakers, but the Gunners’ recent defeat to Bournemouth has led to the ‘favourites’ tag being handed back to the Cityzens.
Most bookies currently have Guardiola’s side between 5/4 and 7/5 to win the league. Those are slightly longer prices than at the beginning of the campaign when many had them as odds-on.
Arsenal remain second in the running, with most pricing them at 5/2, while Liverpool’s odds have been shortening, with some even ranking them as joint second favourites. Of course, if the Reds do lose on Sunday, that will change.
Scholes seems to believe Arne Slot’s team will present the biggest threat to City but we shall have to wait and see if that is actually the case.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here
