‘They’re not going to win the league’ – Micah Richards dismisses Liverpool’s title chances
Micah Richards, a former Manchester City defender and self-professed Arsenal fan, has weighed in on the current Premier League title race, dismissing Liverpool’s chances and tipping Manchester City, under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, to clinch their sixth league trophy.
With Arsenal leading the table on goal difference ahead of Liverpool and City trailing by just one point, the upcoming clash between City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium holds immense significance in the title race. Meanwhile, Liverpool will face Brighton in another crucial fixture this weekend.
Arsenal, under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta, are enjoying an impressive run of eight consecutive wins in the league. Their victory over City earlier in the season, courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli’s late goal, serves as a morale booster as they prepare for the challenging encounter.
However, City’s preparations have been marred by injuries to key players like John Stones and Kyle Walker. Despite this setback, Guardiola remains optimistic about the availability of Ederson and Manuel Akanji for the upcoming clash.
On the other hand, Arsenal’s own injury concerns loom large, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Magalhaes all missing from training on Friday, raising doubts about their participation.
Richards, speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, expressed his belief that Liverpool is unlikely to secure the title this season, putting his money on either Manchester City or Arsenal. He emphasized the significance of Arsenal securing a win at the Etihad to keep their title aspirations alive.
Reflecting on Arsenal’s opportunity to disrupt City’s dominance, Richards recalled a similar scenario from last season when Arsenal faltered against City. He highlighted the importance of Arsenal capitalizing on this crucial moment to make a statement in the title race.
Despite his allegiance to Arsenal, Richards admitted his admiration for Guardiola’s managerial prowess and expressed his desire to see City emerge victorious this weekend.
In essence, as the title race intensifies, the clash between City and Arsenal holds the key to shaping the destiny of the Premier League trophy, with both teams aiming to seize the opportunity and assert their dominance in the race for silverware.