Manchester United icon Roy Keane admits Manchester City and Liverpool will take some stopping this season.
Having formed a duopoly at the Premier League summit in recent years, City and Liverpool served up yet another ding-dong battle in the traditional Community Shield curtain raiser on Saturday afternoon. Liverpool won 3-1 after goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah (pen) and summer signing Darwin Nunez.
Julian Alvarez replied for Pep Guardiola and his star-studded team as both squads sent out a warning to would-be Premier League contenders. However, according to Keane, the chasing pack including United need to rely on 'good luck' to bridge the gap this season and reckons the signs are ominous for those playing catch up.
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City and Liverpool were separated by a single point last term as third-placed Chelsea finished 19 points behind the champions. United, meanwhile, were 35 points off the pace before appointing Erik ten Hag as permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and former interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
Speaking while on punditry duties for ITV Sport on Saturday afternoon, Keane said: "A good day for Liverpool. A new striker, good habits to get into winning, other teams might be sitting watching this thinking are these teams going to ease off?
"Not with Pep and Klopp in charge... the hunger and desire from both teams. Klopp got a big smile, looks refreshed, got a new contract. Good luck stopping these teams.
"You're always putting markers on teams, they'll be watching looking for signs. This pre-season the whole package, options off the bench it really is scary.
"They've got big squads. These boys, the fitness levels are mind-boggling."
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