All eyes will be on Manchester City to discover whether they are ready to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
For the first time in years, Pep Guardiola and Co cannot be considered favourites to win the league, considering Liverpool beat them to the title by 13 points during the 2024/2025 campaign.
However, Guardiola looks motivated behind the scenes to prove City’s doubters wrong during the 2025/2026 season.
Rayan Cherki intends to win trophies at the Etihad Stadium as well and much of the onus to elevate this Sky Blues side will be on new signings like the Frenchman, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders.
Rayan Cherki in action for Manchester City against Wydad at the FIFA Club World Cup
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Jamie Carragher predicts Man City not to win the Premier League for the first time
However, in Liverpool and Arsenal, Manchester City will go toe-to-toe to get their hands on the coveted league title with two teams who are up there with some of the very best in Europe.
Pep Guardiola could be eyeing revenge next season, which would certainly give City an advantage over their domestic rivals as the Catalan tactician being the expert he is at triumphing in title races.
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However, Jamie Carragher has admitted on The Overlap’s Fan Debate that for the first time, he has not tipped Manchester City to win the league, backing Liverpool to defend their crown instead, saying: “I think this could be the first season I’ve ever predicted Liverpool to win the league.”
“I think I’ve always been City, to be honest, with obviously Guardiola. Yeah, I’m going to go Liverpool.”
Pep Guardiola’s record that should worry Liverpool
Considering Liverpool have further bolstered their squad by signing Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike, perhaps several fans and pundits alike would agree with Jamie Carragher that Arne Slot’s side could pip Manchester City to the title.
However, since becoming a manager in 2008, Pep Guardiola has never gone two seasons in a row without winning the league, a statistic that may worry the Anfield faithful.
Furthermore, much like Liverpool, Manchester City have strengthened their squad this summer as well.
It will be fascinating to see whether City beat the odds and prove Carragher wrong.