Michael Owen makes bold Premier League title prediction for next season after Liverpool defeat

Michael Owen has dismissed Manchester City as Premier League contenders next year and sees only one team capable of preventing Liverpool from retaining their title

Michael Owen claims Arsenal will be Liverpool’s only Premier League challengers next season. He’s dismissed Manchester City as potential rivals for the Reds, claiming Pep Guardiola’s side are “miles off it”.

Liverpool have comfortably claimed the title in what is Arne Slot’s first season at the helm. Their consistency saw them establish a comfortable lead and they’ve not looked back, officially being crowned champions eight days ago with a win over Tottenham.

There has been an acceptance that a number of their rivals have dipped this term. Arsenal have drawn too many games to mount a title challenge whilst City, winners of four titles on the bounce, now face a fight to make the Champions League spots after a dire campaign.

Owen cannot see Guardiola’s side recovering any time soon and has waved away their hopes of regaining the Premier League. As a result, he sees Arsenal as the only team who could realistically deny the Reds 12 months from now.

The former Premier League striker said: “I can’t see anybody beating Liverpool next year. Manchester City are miles off it. Arsenal are possibly the only challengers for me.”

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Liverpool were tipped to struggle in the aftermath of Jurgen Klopp’s exit but Slot has exceeded all expectations, working largely with the squad he inherited from the German. He’s got the most from almost every player with the Reds closing on a 90-point season in the coming weeks.

Owen insists the club’s summer recruitment will be key with the Reds looking to add more quality and depth to their squad after seeing their treble hopes fade in March. However they’ve been warned about the balance – with Owen citing the differing issues experienced by City and Chelsea.

“It’s such a good harmonious dressing room that if you go and bring more and more in, then you get discontent,” he told Premier League Productions. “The better players you have as back-up, the more problems you have. You can look at an extreme like Pep Guardiola this season and say, ‘That’s why you should have more players’.

“But he’s had thin squads all his life. That bit him on the bum this season, but look at Chelsea — too many good players is a problem as well. So you have to be careful with the balance of your squad. It’s a careful balance. Liverpool have got it spot on at the moment [in terms of squad depth] so we’ll see what happens.”

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