Manchester City vs Liverpool: Who Will Win the Premier League? | Explained

As much as we’d like to believe this season could see an unexpected title challenge, it doesn’t look likely. Chelsea are rebuilding their backline after a contract apocalypse decimated their defence. Arsenal have added well but remain a couple of years away from their youngsters powering a true tilt at the trophy, and Tottenham would need to add over 20 points to last year’s total to get near Manchester City and Liverpool, something which seems beyond the powers of even the great Antonio Conte.

So who will win the title? Can Nunez or Haaland change the complexion of the race? How will the departures of Sterling and Mane affect their old clubs? Will Guardiola’s tinkering upset his team’s balance, and can Klopp manage his players’ energy through another draining World Cup year?

We’re making our prediction on today’s FD Explained. Let us know yours in the comments.

This is Football Daily - the home of Premier League fan analysis on YouTube. On this channel you'll find Sunday Vibes, Top 10s, Explained, Transfer Talk, Unfiltered, Winners&Losers and much more. If you love football as much as us then don't forget to subscribe!

[Lwisx]

It does feel like it's City's to lose but Liverpool constantly get written off and seem to overachieve. Last season, FD included, many thought Liverpool would finish 4th but they ended up going as close as possible to a quadruple. It will be close once again and I honestly think it'll be the games at Anfield and the Etihad that swings it.

[scotthayes]

As a liverpool fan, I have a good feeling about this season. Think we have a solid chance with our depth and a system that is more accommodating for a true number 9.
Even if Nunez struggles, he pulls teams deeper and offers our wingers more space to do their thing. Even off the bench he offers threatening pace and should give tiring defences a headache.
Arguably we need more in midfield, but again the system means that as long as those in the Middle of the park know their role, we don't have much trouble working the ball forward into dangerous situations.
For city, I don't quite see where they're going to grab consistent goals outside haaland. Moreover, haaland has often been a counter target in Dortmund so will be interesting to see how he adapts. I guess they got Alvarez who seems threatening with his pace, but no one else strikes me as a goal threat inside the box. De Bruyne is gonna need to score a lot of goals outside the box imo.

[ahhyes]

Lingard to score the winner for Nottingham Forrest to bag the league

[crankyderrick]

City have the edge because Haaland has a back up in Alvarez meaning there’s still a goal scorer if Haaland does get injured

[marcedwards]

As a Liverpool fan, this is gonna be a rough season. I think we’ll be right there fighting for first place, but I can’t see us overtaking Man City unless something drastically goes wrong in their side. Haaland struggling for form, perhaps. But he doesn’t look like someone who struggles for form.
Salah needs to be at his best all season without that poor run of last season and Nunez and Diaz could prove to be strong options without the dependable Mane.
Man City losing Sterling could come back to hurt them, though.
Should be a cracking season, but I’ll be on tenterhooks for most of it.

[thefootballniche]

I think they've forgotten about Carvalho, Jones and Elliott as 3 new midfield options who will play a more important role

[sc]

I think Sterling’s departure will hurt City more than what most people would imagine.

[nigl]

Nothing has been mentioned about possiblity of us (LFC) moving to 4-2-3-1 from 4-3-3 which would alleviate number issues with central midfield by going to a double pivot. Also Eliot is very very promising and will surprise at CM for the full season . Carvalho who has been getting rave reviews in pre season will get minutes at CM as well. It isnt as bad as people think...And yes the Bellingham thing will be on the horizon for next season. And there is Morton and also Bacjectic (seemingly Fabinho's backup) who is also promising. LFC fans looking forward to the new season

[NoahFCBayern]

Arsenal will win it.

Here's why:
- Both Arsenal and City have Spanish managers, however, Arteta is not bald unlike Pep.
- Gabriel Jesus & Zinchenko knew that Arsenal are better which is why they left City for them
- Erling Haaland is actually a horrible player (Bundesliga tax: He will score 2 goals in the league in total)
- City won against Bayern in pre-season. According to the Bayern curse, every team will lose their first few games after winning against Bayern (happened very often in the most competitive league in the world, the Bundesliga)
- City will start off the season against Liverpool (Liverpool own them, which is why this will influence their moral going forward)
- Cristiano Ronaldo will try to sneak into the training facilities of ManCity which means that Pep loses the dressing room as Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the new leader within the club

[jairusfukiau]

If Diaz and Nunez have the same work ethic as Mane then Im sure Liverpool will be be competitive my only concern is Klopp being too loyal when players form drops

[TFB]

Love how you mention Arsenal before Spurs, even though Spurs have finished above them every year since 2017

[scotthayes]

*Forgets Liverpool's unbeaten Christmas run came without Salah, Mane, or Keita*

[karangupta]

Love how you didn’t even mention the best player of this league for the last 7 years. Yes that’s how good city is.

[anonymeguy]

I think it will be the matches against each other that will matter

[zappy]

1. Liverpool
2. Man City
3. Arsenal
4. Spurs
5. Chelsea
6. Man U/ West Ham

[sfh]

“Liverpool lost Mane”
Yeh but City lost Jesus, Sterling, Fernandinho, and maybe Bernardo to Barca.
City’s strength is their depth. They lost it this year.
Jota scored 15 league goals when he should of honestly had +20. cause of the service he got was insane. Darwin should be a better poacher and will take advantage of those chances he gets imo.
Think Liverpool takes it. But it will be close

[muhtasimfirdaus]

I feel like the analysis of Liverpool's Midfield having old and injury prone players did somehow overshadow the current form and capability of Carvalho, Elliot and Jones.. At least of what i've seen of the pre season... Carvalho can very well be an X-factor if used properly..though LFC also seem to have high hopes for keita basing on how they're offering him a new contract and how often klopp prefers him over other bench midfielders... The lad hasn't been consistent though.

[cmrdecc]

This is how every analysis should be done. Rational, logical and backed by facts, figures with perfect database usage👍👍👍

[inserter]

Very well put together , thanx and enjoy what is to be one of the craziest seasons ever, with a world Cup in the middle of it 😳😬

[bricktop.]

Be fun as hell of a couple of teams popped up out of nowhere and " do a Leicester".
Like Brentford or someone being in the hunt until the final couple of weeks. Would be awesome.