Robbie Savage says three teams will challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title next campaign – but has overlooked Arsenal.
Arsenal sat at the top of the league table for 248 days this season as they chased a first league title since 2004.
But the Gunners’ title charge faded out as Manchester City won 12 matches in a row to clinch the title with three games remaining.
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Despite pushing Man City close this term, Savage does not expect Arsenal to be involved at all in the Premier League title race in 12 months’ time.
Instead, the former midfielder has backed Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea to rival Man City for top honours.
United have been impressive in Erik ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford, winning the League Cup, reaching the FA Cup final and all but securing a top-four finish.
Liverpool endured a poor run earlier in the campaign – sparking speculation over Klopp’s future at Anfield – but the Reds thrived during the run-in as they attempted to disrupt the battle for Champions League football.
However, Chelsea have slipped into the bottom-half of the table during a season in which Blues owner Todd Boehly has sacked two managers and seen caretaker boss Frank Lampard continue to struggle.
While speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live as Manchester City lifted the Premier League title for the fifth time in six years, Savage said: ‘Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are the three teams that can challenge Man City next season.
‘But they will need to come up with 95 points to run them close.’
After winning a third successive league title, Pep Guardiola described his team’s achievement as ‘extraordinary’ and conceded he feared Arsenal would refuse to concede top spot earlier in the season.
‘It’s quite extraordinary. Big congratulations for the whole organisation for an incredible effort – be patient for all of us and we did it,’ he said.
‘I thought if we were to retain the title it would be more difficult because when a team like Arsenal is playing the way they are playing – 50 points in the first leg – I thought it would be difficult.
‘In that moment it was a question of keep going and keep going and when they come to the Etihad be close to them and that’s what happened.’
