Jamie Redknapp has ruled out one of Arsenal’s main rivals from the Premier League title race after both Liverpool and Manchester City suffered significant setbacks on Saturday. The defeats have shifted the momentum in favor of Mikel Arteta’s team, who are now in a strong position to extend their lead at the top of the table ahead of their upcoming north London derby against Tottenham.
Liverpool and Manchester City had the opportunity to challenge Arsenal for the lead before the match against Spurs. However, neither side managed to secure a win, allowing the Gunners to capitalize on the situation. A victory over Tottenham would increase Arsenal’s lead to six points, making it even more difficult for their rivals to catch up.
Liverpool faced a particularly tough week, as they were defeated 3-0 by Manchester City before the international break. Their struggles continued on Saturday when they lost 3-0 to Nottingham Forest at Anfield. This loss marks their sixth defeat in the last seven league games, leaving them in the bottom half of the table. Speculation about Arne Slot’s future at the club is growing, with many questioning whether he can turn things around.
Meanwhile, Manchester City also failed to capitalize on their chance to close the gap on Arsenal. They were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United, with Harvey Barnes scoring a crucial brace in the second half. This result means that City remain behind the Gunners in the standings.
Despite this, Jamie Redknapp believes that Chelsea could now be a serious contender in the title race. He pointed out that the changes made to the squad, including the departure of key players like Kevin De Bruyne, have positioned Arsenal in a strong position this season.
Redknapp was quick to dismiss Liverpool as a potential title winner this season, stating that it would take a “miracle” for them to retain the title they won so convincingly last year. He told Sky Sports: “Yeah, look, we can forget Liverpool. They’ve had a few mentions tonight, but forget Liverpool. They cannot win the Premier League this year. They’re too far gone, confidence is too low, that’ll be a miracle if they did it.”
He emphasized that Arsenal are currently the best team in the league, with the strongest squad and the most consistent performance over the past few years. “They’ve got the best squad, best organised, and they’ve been the best over the last four or five years,” he said.
Former England striker Alan Shearer expressed concerns about Manchester City’s defensive vulnerabilities following their loss to Newcastle. Redknapp agrees that City are still some way behind Arsenal in terms of consistency and depth. He questioned whether the current Manchester City side can replicate the success of previous seasons, where they achieved long winning streaks.
“Their previous performances, where they would go on 12, 13, 14-game winning runs, is this team capable of doing it? I don’t think so,” Redknapp said. He acknowledged that City are in a strong position this year due to the changes they’ve made, but he believes that if Arsenal don’t win the title, City won’t either.
“Are they still playing well? Yes, they can play the game like they did against Liverpool where they dispatched them, but I just don’t see this Manchester City side as strong as the previous ones just yet. But they will build and they will definitely get back to that.”
