The new Premier League season is almost upon us and the pundits have had their say on Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal
Former Manchester United players Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane have disagreed about who they think will win the Premier League title with Arsenal and Liverpool the two favourites to battle it out for the crown.
Arne Slot’s side finished ten points clear of the Gunners in second place, with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 13 points adrift of the summit in third. Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea completed the top four, and a number of big name pundits have waded in on the debate ahead of this weekend’s Premier League curtain raisers.
The Manchester Evening News has taken a look at what some of the pundits have predicted ahead of the campaign.
Wayne Rooney
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been left impressed by Ruben Amorim’s summer transfer window but believes they still need further additions to sneak a top five finish.
“I still think they need one or two more signings,” Rooney told the Match of the Day special edition preview. “But I think you can see what Amorim is doing. I think it’s looking better for Manchester United, and I think they will sneak into the top five. I hope they do, you never know.”
Rooney made it clear he expects Liverpool to retain the title, predicting Arsenal to finish second for the fourth year in a row, with Man City and Chelsea completing the top four.
“I already had Liverpool as favourites to win the title this year,” said Rooney. “But if Isak comes in, then I think they’re gonna be unstoppable.
“The quality they’ve got, as Danny’s just alluded [to], and I think a big thing was replacing Trent [Alexander-Arnold]. There’s a lot of chances created, a lot of goals came from that side. I think [Jeremie] Frimpong has got the attributes to fill that, so I think Liverpool look strong.”
Wayne Rooney(Image: BBC)Gary Neville
Former United defender Gary Neville believes Amorim’s side could finish in fifth or sixth, but stressed the importance of signing one key position.
“You’ve got to get a goalkeeper. If you’ve got a goalkeeper and a midfield player, I think fifth or sixth will be achievable,” Neville argued on the Stick to Football podcast. “I think without a goalkeeper, it’s eighth or ninth.
“That is the number one most difficult position in English football, Manchester United goalkeeper. I think it’s the most scrutiny that anybody comes under.”
Jamie Carragher and Neville on the title
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher does not believe Liverpool would be automatic title favourites this season even if they sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. “Yeah, I think so,” Carragher replied when asked if the Reds are the favourites.
“But I don’t get this narrative of Liverpool are going to run away with it. If you look at history, it could tell you that it’s not just about having the best players, it’s about having the best team, and sort of making that balance right, and at the weekend it didn’t quite look right.
“I think we will have a title race, and I think there’s a lot of talk. I think the great thing about football is what we actually saw on Sunday with Liverpool. It didn’t look right.
“It tells me it’s not just about spending lots of money and buying the best players, you’ve still got to manage that team and make it work and have a nice balance to it.”
However, Neville, like many pundits, believes that Liverpool will be leading title contenders if they sign Isak. “Liverpool won it really comfortably last year and have had a great transfer window,” he said during the launch of Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage.
“If they get Isak, which it looks like he’s agitating for a move, then it will make them massive favorites. But Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, I think will push them closer than last year.”
Sky Sports pundit Jamie CarragherHarry Redknapp
Former Spurs and Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp also believes Liverpool are on to retain the Premier League title this season, especially if they’re able to sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, with Manchester United omitted from his predictions.
He told BetVictor Casino : “I’d have to fancy Liverpool again. They’re looking strong, have made some good signings and are still obviously trying to get Alexander Isak in.
“If they get him, that would be icing on the cake probably for them. I’ve just got a feeling they could go on a run for a couple of years like we had with Manchester City dominating.”
“Arsenal and Man City, they’re the two big dangers,” Redknapp added. “I think everyone’s expecting Chelsea. They’re going to do it, they’ll be close. But I think Arsenal and Man City, I see them as bigger dangers than Chelsea to Liverpool.
“I think that will be the top four basically in whatever route, I think Liverpool top. After that, it will be second and third for either Arsenal or Man City. And I think Chelsea will probably finish fourth again.”
Roy Keane and Ian Wright make Arsenal point
Also on The Overlap – Stick to Football podcast, Neville probed Arsenal legend Ian Wright on whether Arteta’s squad could finally clinch their first championship since 2004.
Initially, he highlighted the three issues that Arsenal seem to have addressed, with the north London side now boasting a fit squad and having secured Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and prolific striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
Neville, speaking to Wright, said: “Last season, three problems – injuries to [Bukayo] Saka and [Kai] Havertz obviously caused big problems, obviously you have to keep players fit.
“You had a problem in midfield and you’ve got Zubimendi come in and you had a problem up top, with presence really, and Gyokeres has come in. Does that give them the ‘difference’ to win the League?”.
Roy Keane and Ian Wright have discussed Arsenal’s chances of winning the league(Image: Youtube/TheOverlap)
Wright replied: “I hope so. I think so, because we’ve added to a team that’s finished second three times now and we’ve added goals to it.
“You know, Zubimendi, especially with that mid-block [in the opposition] we can’t break, Zubimendi the way he plays, I’m watching him break through [the mid-block]. You’ve got Gyokeres who can score a goal. You look at the fact that [Arsenal] were 17 goals behind Liverpool [last season] but defensively we’re brilliant.
“So if we can sort that out, and this mid-block [problem] then yeah, I’m going to go for Arsenal again, of course I am, because absolutely, why wouldn’t I?”.
He further commented: “What’s good about us as well is the [contract] renewals. Saka, in good form now, he’s probably going to renew. Gabriel, Ethan [Nwaneri], and for [Arsenal sporting director, Andrea] Berta to come in, and he’s unbelievable when you meet him, Berta’s done the deals, he’s got it done.”
Despite his doubts, Keane supported Wright’s evaluation, suggesting that Arsenal have genuinely addressed their issues, stating: “Yeah, I’m going with Arsenal,” while warning that Liverpool’s ability to score under pressure could be a deciding factor.
“The only thing, and I’ll go back to Liverpool, and Liverpool on a bad day, when they’re off they can score three goals,” Keane added. “Even in the [Community] Shield at the weekend, [where they lost to Crystal Palace on penalties] they still scored two goals. And if you’re scoring two goals on average every game, then that’s hard to stop.”
However, Wright, undeterred, reiterated: “We finished second three times, why would I go someone else?”
Micah Richards
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Micah Richards revisited last year’s predictions before giving his take on this season, saying: “It’s a hard one because I remember saying last season that I thought Manchester City had won it if everyone stayed fit. If [City] got any injuries, those little injuries could be the difference.
“Bringing in Gyokeres now for Arsenal is massive. And not just because he’s a big-name forward. Because of his movement that we talk about with strikers all the time. Havertz is really good, we’re all big fans of Havertz, but in a number 10 position where he can create, not leading the line.
“I know [Havertz has] done really good movement when he plays up there but he hasn’t got a striker’s instinct. So that’s why I think Gyokeres is gonna add something really special.
“I still don’t know if it’s enough to get them [Arsenal] over the line. I still don’t know. I think one or two injuries and they’re back to the same as last season. So I’m going to say challenging but not champions.”
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Alan Shearer & Gary Lineker
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer was in agreement with his podcast co-pundit, telling the Rest is Football podcast Arsenal will just miss out again this season. He said: “I think they’ll challenge, I just think they may fall short again.
“I like all of their signings. I think that’s exactly what they needed. And I still don’t think they may be finished yet in terms of bringing players in and certainly players going out.
“I’ve definitely got them in Champions League but I just don’t see them having enough to win the title. Just fall short.”
Gary Lineker also followed suit, stating: “I think I concur with both of you on that front. I probably wouldn’t have said that if it wasn’t that Liverpool have strengthened so well. A lot too will depend on how Gyokeres does. I mean he scored a terrific goal in pre-season but we all know pre-season is not that important.
“Although, it is for a striker in terms of that feeling of hitting the back of the net. So I think a lot will depend on him but we know he’ll get good service. I think they could go close again but I’m going to agree.”
Joleon Lescott
Former Man City defender Joleon Lescott believes Pep Guardiola’s side will bounce back this season and win the title. Speaking at the launch of the new Topps Premier League 2025-26 trading card collection, he said: “Regardless of how last season panned out, they are definitely going to be one of the favourites. It’s Pep Guardiola, it’s Man City with some of the world’s best players”, reports the Mirror.
“It would be foolish to not see them as favorites in every competition they enter. That doesn’t mean they’re going to win everything, but they’re definitely one of the favorites.”
City finished last season 13 points behind Arne Slot’s Reds but Lescott felt there was a pretty clear reason behind it.
“It was obviously an unprecedented season for them last year, but they’ve achieved something no one in the history of English football has achieved so it’s always going to take its toll,” he explained.
“It did that last year. Not only a physical toll, but a mental toll to stay focussed for that long and to have to win games for that period of time. When they recognised that they weren’t going to win the title, whether it was subconsciously or not, they were able to switch off a little bit.
“Physically the demand was still there but hopefully they’ve had a break mentally, not to have to go out there and concentrate points wise, hopefully that now means they’ll come back ready to go.”
KICK OFF – Man United pre-season guide 2025/26
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