Liverpool icon has weighed in on the race for the Premier League title, expressing skepticism about Arsenal’s prospects. According to the former Reds player, Mikel Arteta’s team had a stronger position last season when they were ahead of Manchester City but faltered in April.
Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City are currently vying for the Premier League crown, with Arsenal showing resilience after a turbulent festive period by maintaining an unbeaten streak in 2024. Notably, they secured crucial victories, including a 3-1 win against Liverpool and a 5-0 triumph over Burnley.
Despite Arsenal’s recent form, Barnes remains doubtful about their ability to challenge City and Liverpool throughout the season. He stated that City are the favorites, with Liverpool as the second contenders. Barnes emphasized the significance of March and April in determining the title contenders, citing teams like Aston Villa and Tottenham as examples of previous hopefuls who faded away.
Barnes highlighted the resilience of teams like City and Liverpool, who can secure results even when not playing at their best. He contrasted this with Arsenal, suggesting that they need to perform exceptionally well to win matches. Consequently, he still views the title race primarily between City and Liverpool.
Regarding the psychological aspect of the race, Barnes noted that Liverpool’s win would increase pressure on their rivals. However, he believes City is equipped to handle such pressure due to their remarkable team strength. Additionally, he suggested that Arsenal might feel the impact of Liverpool’s result more than City.
In an unexpected turn of events, Manchester City stumbled in the title race with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, allowing Liverpool to take a two-point lead over Arsenal and a four-point lead over City, who still have a game in hand.
