Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has admitted that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will be favourites for the Premier League title.
The Brazilian has been part of two Liverpool sides which have finished just a point behind Manchester City in the title race, and believes that the Citizens will be the team to beat yet again next season.
They’ve won four out of the last five Premier League titles, with the only exception a 2020 win for Fabinho and his Liverpool teammates.
“City are obviously the favourites and it’s tough to fight against them to win the Prem,” Fabinho told The Athletic.
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“You can play one of your best seasons like we did, score more than 90 points and it still doesn’t mean you win the title."
"We know that if we want to win it we’ll need to be almost perfect."
“City are always buying new players, always reinforcing their team. This summer was no different with (Erling) Haaland joining them."
"I think it will be a really good battle with them, but not just them."
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“Tottenham have bought some good players, Arsenal too with Gabriel Jesus going there, Chelsea too. Everyone has been reinforcing because everyone wants to beat City. That means the Premier League will be at a really good level this season.”
Fabinho joined Liverpool in 2018 from AS Monaco and has since established himself as one of the world’s best defensive midfielders, winning six trophies under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
He played a key role last season as his side came so close to winning an unprecedented quadruple, but still won two domestic cup competitions.
The Reds kick off their Premier League campaign against Fulham on August 6th at 12:30, and will hope to go one further after their agonising end to the season last time out.
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Manchester City were 2-0 down at home to Aston Villa whilst Liverpool were drawing with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and came back to win 3-2 to deny the Reds a dramatic victory.
Chris Stonadge