2 hours ago
32
Former Liverpool winger Stewart Downing believes Chelsea are the biggest threat to the Reds' Premier League title defence this season.
Arne Slot's side won the title at a canter last season, finishing 10 points ahead of runners-up Arsenal and 15 in front of Chelsea, who came fourth behind previous champions Manchester City. All three of Liverpool's main rivals have strengthened this summer, while Chelsea ended last season on a high by winning the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup.
Enzo Maresca's side were also the early contenders for the title last season before tailing off around Christmas - and Downing fears they could push Liverpool all the way this time around.
“If I'm looking, anyone who could challenge Liverpool from the rest it’d be Chelsea but you just never know what this Chelsea team will do," Downing told Best Betting Offers.
"They could finish second or they could finish outside the European places. You just never know what you're going to get with them.
"They've definitely got the talent if Maresca can get them playing together in the right system, the right way of playing and then there’s Cole Palmer who is a massive player for them."
Chelsea won the last meeting between the two sides in a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge in May, albeit when Liverpool were already crowned champions.
The Blues have added firepower to their attack this summer with the arrivals of Joao Pedro from Brighton, Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund and Liam Delap from Ipswich.
But Maresca's side failed to truly challenge Liverpool with Arsenal the only team who came remotely close to denying the Reds a 20th domestic title, after Manchester City's dismal season by their own extremely high standards.
Having finished as runners-up three seasons in a row, though, all eyes are now on Arsenal to go one step further, particularly after the £64million signing of striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Downing said: "Arsenal will be there but now the pressure is on because everyone's been saying Arsenal need to sign a proper striker. Now they have done that so go on, then!
"Mikel Arteta has got his own team. He’s got everything around him, including the striker, and there will be big pressure on Gyokeres too as a result but I think he’s a decent signing.
"Manchester City, they’ll always challenge. Don’t ever write Pep Guardiola off, even if he hadn’t signed a player this summer, given how good he is as a coach, even if he got a bit of stick last season."
Downing added: "City, Arsenal and Chelsea will all challenge but I still expect Liverpool to win it.“
English (US) ·