‘Man City set to rival Liverpool amid major transfer developments’
Man City have been backed to push defending champions Liverpool down to the wire in next season’s Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola’s men vastly underperformed in the top-flight last season, losing nine games and landed a distant third spot.
Meanwhile, Liverpool raced to their second Premier League title in five years, finishing 10 points above second-place Arsenal.
Both the Reds and the Etihad Stadium club have been busy in the transfer market as they look to bolster their respective ranks.
Man City tipped to challenge Liverpool once new signings gel
Largely thanks to this summer’s Club World Cup duties, Man City have wasted no time in getting their transfer business done quickly ahead of next season.
The North West giants have made the notable additions of former AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders, France international Rayan Cherki, and ex-Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Addressing Guardiola’s squad depth live on talkSPORT [27 June], Darren Bent said: “Once they all gel, and you look at who they’ve got to come back in, because you look at their starting 11 last night [26 June] and that’s what I was paying attention to.
“They started with Ederson in goal, (Matheus) Nunes, (Ruben) Dias, (Manuel) Akanji, Rodri, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Bernardo Silva, Reijnders, (Jeremy) Doku, and (Omar) Marmoush.
“So (Erling) Haaland didn’t even start, and then they brought on Haaland, (Ilkay) Gundogan, (Phil) Foden, Nico O’Reilly, who’s done really well, Cherki.
“They’ve got so many John Stones didn’t even come on (Josko) Gvardiol, (Nathan) Ake, Nico Gonzalez, Oscar Bobb, just coming back.
“You look at that squad and you go ‘oh my goodness’ that’s what they’ve got to come off the bench.
“They are going to be pushing Liverpool next season all the way.”
Liverpool could be one signing away from overwhelming title favourites
Football Insider verdict
Bent has rightly highlighted that Man City boast an impressive amount of strength in depth, and could well pose a serious challenge to Liverpool.
| Opponent | Result |
| Wydad Casablanca | 2-0 W |
| Al Ain | 6-0 W |
| Juventus | 2-5 W |
However, the defending Premier League champions should still be seen as favourites, as it is arguably difficult to envisage Guardiola’s men restoring their former perch after losing nine top-flight games last season.
Furthermore, while City’s transfer business has been impressive, Liverpool have impressively strengthened their squad with the additions of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez.
All three additions could enjoy stellar campaigns for the Anfield giants next season, as both Wirtz and Frimpong previously fired Bayer Leverkusen to Bundesliga glory under Xabi Alonso, while Kerkez shone in Bournemouth colours.
Meanwhile, Arne Slot’s men still retain an interest in signing a new centre forward, while football finance expert Dan Plumley exclusively told Football Insider that Liverpool can afford Alexander Isak.
If the Reds sign the Newcastle United hotshot, that would surely put any fears on Merseyside that Man City can beat them to the title to bed.