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Title predictions, and the pundits that make them, are rarely anything other than safe. And you cannot get safer than picking either Manchester City or Liverpool as your title favorite. Unless—as former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher did on Sky Sports—you pick either. Big call, Carra.
Of course, he was talking about City and Liverpool in reference to the hot start from Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur (who are still below the “in crisis” Reds on the table).
“I still can’t envisage anyone else besides Liverpool or Man City winning the league,” Carra said as a pundit for Sky. “I just can’t see that.
“I know Tottenham have started really well, I hope they have a great season and there are more challengers, but I just can’t see anyone else lifting that league title besides the big two over the last few years.”
Also, it’s just Tottenham, lads. Not finished with stating the safe and obvious, he also dinged Liverpool’s title hopes because of the season-ending injury to Virgil van Dijk.
“There’s no doubt, I would be very strong in putting Liverpool as big favorites for the title but for the injury to Virgil van Dijk, who is not just one of Liverpool’s top players, he’s one of the top players in the Premier League.
“I think if something similar would have happened to Kevin De Bruyne at Man City, who is their top man, I think we’d say the same about City, so I think it makes for a more interesting race.”
Despite the injury, Liverpool have gotten off to a really great start—fluke result to Aston Villa not withstanding. A November win over City put Liverpool 9 points clear over their domestic rival last year, a position from which they never looked back. This year, that win would put them 8 clear, once again making them favorites for the run in.
It’s perhaps reductive to say that the title will probably go to City or Liverpool. But it’s also very likely true. And a win for either side would be seen as a big advantage as the rest of the season unfolds.
Regardless, it should be an exciting and tense affair, with two of the top sides in the world—with two of the best managers—battling it out for English supremacy. Can’t wait.