Liverpool won’t retain the Premier League title next season because Arsenal will take the next step under Mikel Arteta. That is the opinion of Ally McCoist, who has gone early with his prediction for the new campaign.
Last season, Liverpool was written off by the majority of pundits. McCoist said last May that he was unsure that the Reds would “have the consistency required to win the league and challenge right at the top”, while Gary Neville said that Manchester United— now just one place above the relegation zone — would finish above Arne Slot’s side.
Even before the summer has played out, with Liverpool expected to be busy in the transfer market, McCoist has moved early to go against the Reds again, predicting that the Gunners will come out on top. Arteta’s men drew 2-2 at Anfield last weekend.
“I think Arsenal will win the Premier League next season,” McCoist told talkSPORT BET. “As long as they sign a couple of players — one being an out-and-out center forward — there’s no reason why Arsenal can’t go and kick on again.
“They’ve got some brilliant players. Their back four is solid, Myles Lewis-Skelly has come in, Martin Odegaard’s form has dipped but he’s still a wonderful player, and Declan Rice has been out of this world.
“I look at Manchester City; they’re bouncing back from that horrendous run they went on mid-season. Liverpool will take a lot of confidence from holding onto Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk and there’s no doubt they’ll go and strengthen in the summer.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“Keeping hold of those two players is massive for them, even though it’ll be a really tough challenge to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold. If Arsenal sign a top striker and strengthen their bench, I can honestly see them going and winning the league next season.”
“The clock is absolutely ticking on Mikel Arteta,” McCoist added. “But should Arsenal be looking to get rid of him? Absolutely not.
“Anybody can see the improvement Arteta has brought to the club. Fans will argue that the form over the last six weeks has dropped, which is true.
“But we can put that down to Arsenal putting their eggs in the Champions League basket and waiting for Liverpool to finally lift the Premier League title.”
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“I think it has to be a big summer and I trust the club and the people who make the decisions to do the right thing,” Van Dijk told reporters on Sunday. “As champions, it is a very difficult task to remain champions, but I feel with additions we can make that step up.
“We can have a proper pre-season, we can work on the things the manager wants us to do in ball possession and without ball possession, a lot of hard work will be done.
“It’s something to look forward to, it’s very exciting and it’s an exciting time to be associated with Liverpool. Let’s see what happens but I fully trust the decision-makers to do the right things.”
Liverpool.com says: If this season has proved anything, it is that Liverpool and Slot shouldn’t be ruled out. Next season, there is a good chance that the Reds will improve again by signing a couple of good players in the transfer market.
