Arsenal or Liverpool? Kalvin Phillips names the side that will win the Premier League this season
Kalvin Phillips has shared his thoughts on who between Arsenal and Liverpool can win the Premier League title this season. He backed the Reds to win but believes the Gunners will be close challengers.
The north London side have challenged for the Premier League title in the last two seasons but finished behind Manchester City. In the 2022-23 season, they led the table for 248 days but failed to win, setting an unwanted record. In the 2023-24 season, they fell short by just two points. Hence, they will be eager to get over the line this time.
However, while Manchester City have fallen behind in the race, Liverpool have become the new favorites under Arne Slot this season. They sit atop the table, six points above Mikel Arteta's side with a game in hand.
The Gunners beat Ipswich Town 1-0 at the Emirates in the Premier League on Friday. Kalvin Phillips assessed his side's performance and also shared his thoughts on the potential title winner, saying (via TBR Football):
“Arsenal are a very good team, they created quite a few chances, but in the second half we could have turned the game around. In the second half we forced a few mistakes, created some chances but just didn’t have the finish for them. I felt okay, I was blowing, but they keep us fit.
“Arsenal are a really strong team, Liverpool have been the standout team in the Premier League but I think Arsenal will be the team that’s closest to them at the end.”
Kai Havertz's 23rd-minute strike was enough to give the hosts the win at the Emirates on Friday.
Pundit believes Arsenal are Liverpool's only credible title challengers this season
Liverpool beat Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield on Boxing Day to extend their unbeaten run to 22 games across competitions. They have lost just once in 18 Premier League games this season and are in the prime position to win the title.
Manchester City, who won the title in the last four seasons, are seventh and going through a terrible patch. Meanwhile, Chelsea are third, seven points behind the Reds, who have a game in hand.
Pundit Michael Owen believes the Merseysiders are favorites to win the title and Arsenal are their only real challengers. He said (via Metro):
"They’re [Liverpool] absolutely loving it aren’t they, you can only imagine that dressing room. People will say, they will come out and say, ‘we don’t look at other teams, we just concentrate on ourselves’, and they’re right to do that and they are concentrating on themselves, they are motoring along really well.
"But everyone around them is falling away at the same time, Chelsea lost today, Manchester City dropped points again, and they’re probably out of it now. When I look at the league table I’d be astonished if Liverpool don’t go on to win it now."
"I think their only danger could be Arsenal. I don’t fancy Chelsea, I think they are too young, too inexperienced. Forest are having a great season but they can’t sustain that. Newcastle are too far behind, even though they are coming into good form at the moment, Bournemouth can’t challenge either."
Liverpool will next face West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday, December 29. Meanwhile, Arsenal will face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year's Day.
