22 hours ago
67
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has tipped Arsenal to beat Liverpool to next season’s Premier League title - unless the Reds sign Alexander Isak.
Arne Slot’s side will of course be looking to defend its title in the new campaign, which is now just a little over two weeks away.
Liverpool is on its way back to Merseyside after completing its tour of Asia with a 3-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday, with a double header against Athletic Bilbao and the Community Shield against Crystal Palace to come before its defense kicks off against Bournemouth on August 15.
The Reds will once again be among the favorites for the crown, along with Arsenal and Manchester City, who finished second and third respectively last season, with all three sides having made some big additions to their squads for the new campaign.
And Clattenburg thinks the Gunners’ signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP will give Mikel Arteta’s side the edge - although Liverpool could still change his mind.
“Gyokeres signing for Arsenal is genius,” Clattenburg told the Whistleblowers podcast. “Arsenal have been missing goals, they needed that leader upfront. If Liverpool don't get Isak – I could see the league being really competitive this year.
“Luis Diaz has left, the new signings they've made will have to hit the ground running and Salah is not getting any younger. He's losing his pace.
“It all depends on Isak – if he goes, there's only one winner. But I really fancy Arsenal for the title.”
Clattenburg added: “I enjoyed watching Liverpool last season, but nearer the end, they were caught short a little bit.
“A lot of the teams around them suffered – and I felt Liverpool were just slightly better than they were.
“City were poor, Chelsea were indifferent, United and Tottenham weren't as strong. They weren't all beating each other, which normally happens.
“They maintained some form while the rest dipped – but Arsenal look so much stronger this year, and I think they'll challenge a lot more.”
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Clattenburg has had plenty to say about Liverpool recently, with the former official also admitting this week that he didn’t like former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
He made the admission while weighing in on former Premier League official David Coote being dismissed after footage emerged of him allegedly calling ex-Liverpool manager Klopp a "German c---."
"It's absolute rubbish,” Clattenburg told the Undr the Cosh podcast. “If a referee has an opinion, are we saying English referees are corrupt by thinking he's got a problem with Liverpool? No, it's just his honest opinion that he didn't like Jurgen Klopp.
"I didn't like Jurgen Klopp, I thought he was strange. Doesn't mean he was a bad manager. He was an incredibly good manager. I found him very strange."
English (US) ·