Gary Linekar
Gary Lineker has suggested that Manchester City emerged as the true victors after their title rivals, Arsenal and Liverpool, both dropped points on Sunday. Despite being only nine games into the Premier League season, Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions appear to be the main contenders for the top spot, alongside Liverpool and Arsenal. City have maintained an unbeaten start to the season, whereas Liverpool, who were just a point behind, had secured victories in all but one of their games before their visit to the Emirates. Mikel Arteta’s side managed to hold the visitors to an impressive draw, solidifying the belief that either team could ultimately clinch the title. However, Lineker believes City were the real winners this weekend. Guardiola’s team secured all three points against Southampton on Saturday, while their biggest adversaries lost valuable ground. City are aiming for a fourth consecutive Premier League title, having been closely challenged by Arsenal in the past two seasons.
Gary Lineker said “I’ve said it many times with Man City, I think a lot of people look at Man City and think they’re gonna blow everyone away. Pep was really impressed with the way they played and the setup. I think he was giving more credit to Southampton and how they played. They just found a way to win, and that’s what great teams do.”
Lineker also highlighted Liverpool’s performance and prospects this season.
Gary Lineker said “Liverpool once again showed they’re definitely going to be a force once again this season. I know Arsenal edged it in the first half, but he [Slot] shifted things again, and he pushed Trent more into midfield. Then, in the second half, when they were trailing, that kind of made a difference – obviously a fantastic pass from Trent that led to the goal. In some ways, it’s not just seeing Liverpool, it’s seeing how the manager handles things post-Klopp, which we’ve also mentioned numerous times. He’s got a calmness about him, doesn’t he?”
