Jose Mourinho had downplayed Arsenal’s title hopes, maintaining that Manchester City is the frontrunner to retain their Premier League crown.
Despite Arsenal securing the top spot with a 2-0 win against Brighton, City’s lapse against Crystal Palace has put them five points behind.
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Last season, Arsenal held a similar lead over City at this point, only for the treble winners to catch up in the second half and secure a third consecutive title.
Mourinho believes City’s remarkable squad depth, capable of assembling two world-class starting line-ups, will secure their success once more.
Liverpool poses the closest competition, and Mourinho expresses a desire for Arsenal to join, turning it into a three-way title race.
Asked by former Chelsea player John Obi Mikel on his The Obi One Podcast who will win the Premier League, Mourinho said: ‘Man City 51 [per cent] and Liverpool 49.’
When asked if league leaders Arsenal are in the conversation, Mourinho pulled a face and replied: ‘Na.’
Mikel burst out laughing at his former manager’s bluntness, saying: ‘The rivalry is still there!’
Mourinho added: ‘But it is not the rivalry… it isn’t the right moment [for them].’
When Mikel suggested the north Londoners ‘always capitulate’, Mourinho said: ‘Honestly, rivalry apart because I can do it, I would like them to win, I would like a third [team in the title race].
‘Of course Chelsea is not going to win it, that’s out of the question, so I don’t think about Chelsea.
‘Of course Manchester United is not going to win it, I don’t speak about Man United too, so it’s going to be these three and out of these three I would be happy for Arsenal to do it.
‘I would be really happy to [see them] break a little bit that thing, but I think it’s 51-49 [between City and Liverpool].
‘And I say 51-49 because when the accumulation of matches are coming, Man City has two teams!’
