Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has insisted Manchester City are favorites to win the Premier League over Arsenal, despite the Gunners leading the way.
The Citizens defeated Liverpool 3-0 on Sunday, closing the gap on leaders Arsenal to four points after 11 games in the new Premier League season.
Most people had Liverpool as favorites to win the Premier League, especially after winning the first five games of the new season, but since then the Reds have lost five of their last six league games.
With Liverpool facing relegation last month and Arsenal in control of the Premier League title race, Man City fans will now believe they have a chance to win the league.
And Scholes insisted it was Man City’s experience in this situation that allowed him to help Pep Guardiola’s side win the title, while Arsenal lacked that know-how.
Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast:
Read: Arsenal’s open play 6 goals fixed after Arteta switches to AI despite Wenger’s ‘danger’ warning
“I think they are still slightly better favorites than Arsenal because of what they have done so far.
“We know we are four points behind Arsenal, but they have experience and Arsenal don’t have experience. We need to put them (City) just above them.”
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler insists the Reds “have to win almost every game” if they want to win the Premier League title.
“I’m more of a realist when it comes to football.
“The manager will come out and say the right things, but don’t get me wrong, I can’t say I’ve given up because it looks terrible from the outside.
“But we also need a little bit of realism because history shows that only a few teams have won the Premier League after six or seven defeats.
“It’s going to be difficult for Liverpool. If Liverpool want to win the league now they have to win virtually every game. They can’t even draw, they have to win. They can’t even draw games. They have to win games. They can’t even draw games. They have to win games.”
“I think they are missing out on the title, but I don’t think they will say they don’t have it. You have that professionalism and you still have to work hard and get points.
“Yesterday I was asked if Liverpool were coming out of their rut and I said, ‘Don’t get carried away.’ They beat Aston Villa, but for 45 minutes Liverpool weren’t good, and then they beat Real Madrid. So the only time they looked relatively okay was for 45 minutes in the league.”
“Until yesterday I thought they still had a bit of a chance (to retain the title),” Scholes said.
“But you can see it by the way they lost yesterday.”
More coverage from the arsenal on the F365…
👉 Who is the best goalkeeper in the Prem this season? Arsenal’s Raya fails a rare test
👉 Arsenal hold ‘meeting’ as Sunderland accused of ‘putting health at risk’ of Gunners stars
👉 Owen claims Arsenal are ‘third best team’ in Premier League despite titlefavorite”
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged the Gunners to look forward rather than backward as they aim to win their first title since 2004.
“Arsenal just have to keep winning games. They haven’t done too bad. They’re top of the Premier League table, they’re top of the Champions League table,” Keown told talkSPORT.
“I think instead of looking over your shoulder, you look ahead and take advantage of the opportunities that are there.
“What we need is to have enough players and we don’t have enough at the moment.
“Gokeres’ absence was a problem and I hope this doesn’t become a story about No. 9. Obviously Haaland is in a different league, but Arsenal need him back on the pitch soon.”
But Keown dismissed the idea that it was just a battle between two horses for the title, and hid Chelsea’s name as a possible challenger.
Keown added: “You have to note that Chelsea are starting to pick up their game a little bit. They look like they’re starting to be a bit more formidable.”
