This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Former Manchester City manager and player Stuart Pearce has not backed his old team to win a third consecutive top-flight title, claiming that Liverpool will “comfortably” claim the Premier League trophy.
What did he say?
The Reds lead the way in the Premier League with 25 points from nine games and are the only unbeaten side left in the division. However, their lead was cut from eight points to six at the top after their draw against Manchester United.
City do boast a superior goal difference at the moment with +20 compared to Liverpool’s +15. Despite this, Pearce, who managed the club from 2005 to 2007, believes his old side are not the favourites this time around. The former defender told talkSPORT: “I think Liverpool will win the Premier League comfortably this year.
“I’m not sure they’ll go unbeaten, but I can’t see them losing more than two games. They’re still clear favourites.
“Those could be against Manchester City, potentially, but if you go into the game against your nearest rivals with a six point buffer, it will put real pressure on Man City to come out and play.
“That might just suit Liverpool.”
If there is ever a year, it’s this year
Firstly, it is still tough to believe that the Reds did not win the league title last year, having been top of the table from matchday 16, until City overtook them in matchday 29.
The draw in the Merseyside derby on week 29 put the reigning champions ahead by a point and it remained that way until the season finale. As a result, City would secure back-to-back league trophies and push Liverpool’s wait for a top-flight title to 29 years.
However, they are rightfully so the favourites for watchers like Pearce this year. Jurgen Klopp’s men were resilient and never threw in the towel at Old Trafford recently, which inevitably kept their unbeaten run going and ultimately showed a championship-winning mentality.
There is also the injury to Aymeric Laporte for six months to take under consideration.
The Frenchman was the main man at the back alongside John Stones, and ever since his injury, City have uncharacteristically lost two league games out of five, and it does seem that Laporte’s absence is going to have a significant impact on the title race.
Plus, having opened up a six point lead already, Liverpool should class themselves as the favourite.