Jamie Carragher has made his Premier League title race prediction, with just over a fortnight to go until the start of the new season.
Arsenal are the defending champions after ending their 22-year wait to be crowned kings of England again and face newly-promoted Coventry City in the opening game on August 21.
Transfer activity and title favourites
The Gunners, though, are yet to strengthen significantly in the transfer window, bringing in Christos Tzolis as a replacement for Leandro Trossard and signing Illan Meslier on a free after his release from Leeds United.
While Arsenal are closing in on a move for Bruno Guimaraes and are interested in a blockbuster deal for Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior, Carragher has put Manchester City as slight favourites for the title - despite the departure of Pep Guardiola.
Carragher's reasoning
"I think City. The reason I think City is that I think they were still close last year. I know Pep’s gone, I get that," Carragher said on the Football Ramble podcast.
"When you’ve had the same manager for ten years, the flip side of what people will say is that it’s hard to come after him. Just something a little bit new, a little bit fresh. I think if Rodri left for Real Madrid then I wouldn’t be saying that but in terms of where they are right now…"
"If you’re City, what’s the point in selling Rodri? What’s the point? Just get another year out of him and let him go for free. He’s the best in his position. What’s £40m for City?"
Two-horse race
"Where we are right now, and we know there’s still a month to go transfer-wise, I can only see Arsenal or City," Carragher continued.
"There’s a question because he [Maresca] is new to the role but I’m a fan of Maresca in terms of what he does on the pitch, in terms of what happened at Chelsea, in terms of watching him tactically and how he set up."
"The problems they caused Liverpool at times, when Liverpool won the league under Arne Slot, the two Chelsea games, I was looking at them and thinking, ‘This fella knows what he’s doing’ and I think he’s very capable at the level he’s coaching at."
"Whether Arsenal will be a lot better because they’ve got the monkey off their back, I don’t know, but I don’t think City were great for a lot of last season and the title still almost went to the wire. If Rodri stays or goes that could be a huge factor."
