Former Liverpool star Mark Lawrenson believes Manchester City are still the favourites for the Premier League title – but has offered a warning to the Reds’ rivals.
Jurgen Klopp’s side get their campaign underway this weekend as they travel to face Fulham. Liverpool take on the newly-promoted club at Craven Cottage on Saturday, in their first visit to the West London club since December 2020.
Liverpool have already faced Man City before the Premier League season gets underway, having beaten them in the Community Shield last weekend. The Reds claimed a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez.
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The Reds lost out on the league title to Man City last season by just a single point, and Mark Lawrenson reckons it will be a close-run contest yet again. The former Liverpool defender explains the circumstances that could hurt Man City’s chances of beating Liverpool to the title.
“I think just the same as last year but I would have City as narrow favourites.” Lawrenson told Off the Ball , when asked for his prediction for the upcoming season.
“If you look at the games towards the end of last season when they really needed to win in the big moments, they came through and Liverpool chased which is always, always easier because the guys in front you’re always looking over your shoulder – you only need one or two saying you might get caught.
“But I think it’s very, very, very close and you know, what if De Bruyne gets injured for four months that’s the big thing from City’s point of view, who’s going to play in his position?
“Well you argue there’s no one in the world at the moment that’s capable of playing in that position and running the team and working hard, making assists and scoring lots of goals. It remains to be seen.
“Also the effect of the World Cup, if Belgium go all the way then what will De Bruyne be like for the last four or five months of the league season?”
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