In a recent column published on BBC Sport, Alan Shearer predicts the team closest to winning the PL.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City are currently battling it out for the league title. Jürgen Klopp’s side are leading the standings with 67 points, two points clear of Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s side are in third place with 64 points.
The league is a tightly contested affair. Alan Shearer, one of the EPL’s most successful former players, shared his predictions for the team closest to the title.
He said: “At the moment it is advantage Liverpool, and Arsenal are not going away, but, with nine games to go, I still see Manchester City as favourites for the Premier League title.
“That feeling is not really based on how City are playing right now, though. Pep Guardiola’s side are on a long unbeaten run, stretching back 23 games in all competitions, but they have not hit top form and a few of their performances in that spell have not quite been at the level we have come to expect.
“Some of their results have been disappointing too, including Sunday’s 0-0 draw with the Gunners. It must be a concern for Guardiola that his side have not beaten another top-five team this season, in six attempts.
“City have a chance to change that when they play Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday – and they have to. They cannot afford to drop points in successive games, so it’s another huge night for them – against the last team to beat them, on 6 December.
“One of City’s biggest strengths, however, is that they have been here and done it so many times before. And, while their rivals might be in better form, City have the experience to know that the draw with Arsenal was not a disaster. It was a much better result for the Gunners, but it will not bother City too much when they face Villa, or going forward, because there is a quarter of the season left.
“They were my pick to win the league when it started and I am certainly not going to change my mind now.”
You May Like : MANCHESTER CITY KEEPING TABS ON JARRAD BRANTHWAITE