Liverpool are more likely than Arsenal to run Manchester City close next season, according to pundits Gary Neville and Robbie Savage.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds are the only side to stop Pep Guardiola's side from completing a clean sweep of the last six Premier League titles. This time, though, the Merseyside club look set to miss out on Champions League qualification altogether.
City lifted the Premier League trophy on Sunday, having been confirmed as champions when Arsenal lost to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The Gunners didn't come as close as Liverpool did in 2022, and this is part of the reason why Neville expects Klopp's side to come close next term.
" Manchester City's players here have real quality, that goes without saying," Neville told Sky Sports. "But in the most difficult moments of the season in the Premier League they’re able to put a run together and come through difficult challenges.
"That takes a lot. It takes a manager who can guide them through moments and bring them that stability. The other clubs have got to look at that same model.
"At this moment in time the one who have proven it over the last six years is Liverpool. I know Arsenal have run City close this year but the only team that I can say at the moment that have demonstrated that they can go close to Guardiola’s City is Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool. I know they’ve dropped well below their standards this season but you don’t know whether they will get back to those standards next season, because they’ve proven they can do that before."
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Savage also sees Liverpool as challengers but can see other sides also bringing themselves into contention. The trio named by the former Wales international also includes Chelsea, despite the Blues finishing this season in the bottom half.
"Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are the three teams that can challenge Man City next season," Savage told BBC Radio 5 Live. "But they will need to come up with 95 points to run them close."
A total of 95 points would have been enough to pip City this season, with Guardiola's side only able to reach 94 if they win their final two games. The champions finished on 93 in 2021-22 - one clear of Liverpool - though 86 points was enough the year before that.
