Arsenal and City seen as main favourites
Wayne Rooney believes the Premier League title fight is shaping up as a battle between Arsenal and Manchester City, but insists Liverpool cannot be written off just yet. The former Manchester United striker thinks the Reds still have enough quality to force their way back into contention if they put a strong run of results together.
Liverpool recover after worrying autumn slump
Arne Slot’s side stormed to the title in the Dutch manager’s first season at Anfield, but have struggled to reach the same level this term.
A poor spell from late September to late November appeared to wreck their hopes of retaining the crown, with a heavy 4-1 defeat to PSV in the Champions League highlighting their problems.
Since that loss, however, Liverpool have gone six games unbeaten in all competitions and have climbed to a more respectable position in the Premier League table.
Spurs win keeps Reds within range
A hard-fought victory over Tottenham at Anfield on Saturday means Liverpool will spend Christmas in fifth place. They sit ten points behind league leaders Arsenal, with Chelsea, Aston Villa and Manchester City occupying the spots between them and the top.
Despite that gap, Rooney thinks the title race is not closed for Slot’s team:
“It looks like Arsenal and Man City are going to be the two to break away at the top of the Premier League now. Liverpool as well though, if they got a run of form and win a few games you never rule them out. If they get that support behind them they can have a say.”
He added that Liverpool’s home backing could still become a decisive factor:
“I wouldn’t rule them out, but Arsenal and City are the two I think will break away. Aston Villa have done fantastic but I think it will be one of the top two.”
Neville: only Arsenal and City are real contenders
Rooney’s former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville broadly agrees with the idea of a two-way race, but goes even further by effectively drawing a line under the top two.
Asked on his Sky Sports podcast if Aston Villa should be included in the title conversation, Neville replied:
“I’m drawing a line beneath the top-two. Aston Villa are there and should be respected but they’re not going to win the league. I would be amazed if that happened. A lot would have to go wrong for Arsenal and Man City for Aston Villa to win the league.”
He also pointed to the inconsistency of the chasing pack, suggesting nobody below Arsenal and City has shown enough to be trusted over a full season.
City remain Arsenal’s main obstacle
For Neville, Manchester City are still the biggest threat to Arsenal’s hopes of lifting their first Premier League title since 2004:
“They’ve got Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola, someone very special on the pitch and someone very special on the bench.”
Neville believes the key risk for Arsenal lies in injuries to their core players, especially Declan Rice, rather than in the occasional scrappy performance:
“I wouldn’t be too worried about Arsenal scraping through a few games, that’s going to happen at some point in this season. They weren’t great at Everton… I think they’re in a good position.”
Title odds back up the two-horse narrative
Current betting odds underline the view that the title race is mainly between Arsenal and City, with Liverpool as an outside threat:
- Arsenal – 8/13
- Manchester City – 13/10
- Liverpool – 25/1
- Aston Villa – 25/1
- Chelsea – 66/1
On paper it looks like a straight shootout between Arsenal and Manchester City, but Rooney’s warning is clear: if Liverpool catch fire again, they could still crash the party at the top.
