Wayne Rooney makes shock Liverpool title claim and warns Arsenal and Man City | Football

Wayne Rooney has warned Arsenal and Manchester City that you ‘cannot rule out’ Liverpool from the Premier League title race.

Liverpool won the Premier League by ten points in Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield but have failed to hit that level this term.

A shocking run from the end of September to the end of November appeared to cost Liverpool the chance of retaining the title they won so convincingly less than six months ago.

But the Reds have turned a corner since a worrying 4-1 defeat to PSV in the Champions League, going six games unbeaten to climb to a more respectable position in the Premier League.

Saturday’s hard-fought win over Tottenham means Liverpool sit fifth in the table going into Christmas, ten points behind title favourites Arsenal.

Chelsea, Aston Villa and Manchester City all sit between Liverpool and the top of the Premier League but Rooney says it remains a possibility that the Reds bridge the gap and challenge for the title.

‘It looks like Arsenal and Man City are going to be the two to break away at the top of the Premier League now,’ Rooney, who won five league titles at Manchester United, said on his BBC podcast.

‘Liverpool as well though, if they got a run of form and win a few games you never rule them out. If they get that support behind them they can have a say.

‘I wouldn’t rule them out. but Arsenal and city are the two I think will break away. Aston Villa have done fantastic but I think it will be one of the top two.’

Rooney’s former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville believes Arsenal will go on to clinch their first Premier League trophy since 2004 and has ruled Aston Villa out of the title race.

Asked whether he was ‘drawing a line’ beneath the current top-three, Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast: ‘I’m drawing a line beneath the top-two.

‘Aston Villa are there and should be respected but they’re not going to win the league. I would be amazed if that happened. A lot would have to go wrong for Arsenal and Man City for Aston Villa to win the league.

‘The league is bizarre, I mean not the two-two, but beneath it. You’re not quite sure what to make of the other teams.

‘Man City are obviously. They’ve got Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola, someone very special on the pitch and someone very special on the bench.

‘That’s the biggest threat to Arsenal other than them getting injuries to [Declan] Rice and a couple of other players.

‘I wouldn’t be too worried about Arsenal scraping through a few games, that’s going to happen at some point in this season.

‘They weren’t great at Everton but were they ever going to be amazing there? I think they’re in a good position.

‘What’s going to be really interesting is how they handle it once they get to March, April, May. That’s going to be really interesting.

‘But I actually feel like they’re going to extend their lead in February and March and get a five or six-point cushion again.

‘I think it’s their year even though they’re getting closed down a bit. I might be embarrassed because I know City fans are getting confident and think they’re close and Arsenal will bottle it.

‘But I’m not sure that will happen this time.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Gary Neville tells Chelsea board they must ‘intervene’ after Newcastle draw

MORE: Paul Merson warns £68m Arsenal star he ‘might not get back in the team’

MORE: Diogo Dalot savaged by Manchester United legend Roy Keane after Aston Villa loss