EXCLUSIVE
Arsenal to fall short again as talkSPORT pundits unanimously predict Man City as Premier League champions ahead of huge season
Treble winners Manchester City could very well be set to secure a record fourth consecutive Premier League title this season.
That's according to talkSPORT pundits, who have resoundingly tipped Pep Guardiola's side for glory once again.
6
6
City were by no means at their very best last term as Arsenal topped the Premier League table for much of the campaign.
But Champions League and FA Cup success was being eyed, with Guardiola and co. navigating through a hectic schedule.
In the final stages they overtook the Gunners and made it three title wins in a row, helping them win a historic treble, with their dominance showing little signs of slowing.
When asked to name a champion, Darren Ambrose kept his answer short and sweet, with the former midfielder saying: "Man City."
READ MORE ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE
And ex-Arsenal start Jermaine Pennant agreed but insists we could be in for a thrilling title race
He added: "It’s very hard to look past Man City seeing what they’ve done in the last five years.
"I don’t think they will run away like they have been, I think it’s going to be a lot more tight, competitive and there’s going to be other teams, more than one team this season challenging for the title.
6
6
"I think Liverpool will be back in it, Arsenal will be up there as well."
Most read in Football
Mark Goldbridge also thinks the Gunners and Reds could compete, but City remain the favourites: "You can’t look beyond them.
"It’s boring I know but I think they’re always going to be the team to beat. Potentially Arsenal, Liverpool and maybe Manchester United, but I’d say Arsenal and Liverpool are probably the realistic contenders for second place."
However, Premier League hero Jimmy Bullard does not believe City will face any real competition for their title this season: "I can’t stray from them.
"I just really like the way they play, their style obviously, I just can’t see anyone getting near them, I think they’re just too good. I’d love to say, ‘is there going to be any other competition?’ I just don’t see it.
6
"Having Pep there, just too cute, keeps the squad fresh which he’s talked about before, he ain’t frightened to try things. I don’t know, I just think they’re too good."
"It’s nigh on impossible to think that City are going to be [beaten]," Tony Cascarino affirmed. "If anyone gets in front of City they win the league and that’s it, to me, they’re so good.
"We talk about the first year settling in, [Erling] Haaland got so many goals, unless he’s injured, he’s going to get 35+ again and I just think defensively they’re going to improve where they were last year, because they conceded more goals than probably Pep Guardiola would’ve liked."
He also hailed City's work in the summer transfer window so far: "They’ve still got an unbelievable midfield, [Mateo] Kovacic is a fantastic signing for City.
6
"He’s a talented lad, a lot of Chelsea fans are going to be gutted about him leaving because they know he’s top quality. A fee that’s pretty reasonable at 28-years-old, it’s a great signing, a terrific signing."
Even though City have seen the departures of key players, Drive co-host, Premier League 100 Club member and Arsenal fan Darren Bent feels Guardiola will still find a way to win:
He told marvelbet369.com: "I think [back to] what they did last season and they looked comfortable doing it.
"I know they’ve lost one or two players, [Ilkay] Gundogan, [Riyad] Mahrez has gone, I just think they’ve got strength in depth. Their scouting network, I know they’ve got all the money in the world but they’ll lose Gundogan, they’ll replace him.
"They could lose Kyle Walker, they’ll replace him. I just think they’re the team to beat again."
The new talkSPORT match centre
Keep up-to-date with all the latest football fixtures, results and standings in our new match centre.
Topics