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Jurgen Klopp (Photo: New Balance)
Danny Murphy believes Liverpool FC have the upper hand over Manchester City in the Premier League title race this season.
The Reds are looking to retain their Premier League crown this season after winning the title in style last season, when they finished an impressive 18 points ahead of Manchester City and won the trophy with seven games to play.
Manchester City had been strongly linked to a move to bring Lionel Messi to the Etihad this summer, but the deal appears to be closed and the Argentine star appears set to stay at FC Barcelona.
The former Liverpool FC midfielder believes this season’s title race will be a direct shootout between the Reds and the Sky Blues, and claims that the fact that City appear to lose Messi places Jurgen Klopp’s men as the favorites for the crown.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Murphy said: “We are witnessing one of the great Premier League rivalries between Liverpool and Manchester City and I can’t wait for the next installment once the new season starts next weekend. week.
“I think that Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola will be champions again in May, but I think the latest twist in Lionel Messi’s on-and-off trade to Manchester City brings the lead back to Anfield.
“As it stands, the evidence points to Liverpool. Everything in the team works, everyone understands their job, from the wings to the forward. To use the car analogy, you know they will pass a technical inspection before entering the garage.
“Some will question the lack of transfer activity, but I’m sure Klopp believes the old saying: ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’
“The durability of the three forwards Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino is phenomenal, a credit to them and to Liverpool’s sports science department.
“Not enough coverage? Well, they have Divock Origi, Takuchi Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Rhian Brewster. Klopp seems happy with that and has been right on almost everything else. “
Murphy added: “For City to stop them they need to sign Messi, but that seems unlikely after the Argentine’s statement on Friday night, unless there is a big U-turn from Barca and they let him go for a reduced price.
“Messi at City could have been a total change in the title race because he is the best player that ever lived. City lost nine times last season, but dominated most without taking any chances.
“That would not have happened in a Messi team, he would never have been deprived of the ball in this City team and he would have found a way.”
Liverpool FC will kick off their new Premier League campaign with a home game against newly promoted Leeds United next weekend.
The Reds will then face Chelsea FC, Arsenal, Aston Vill and Everton in a test start to the new campaign as they look to try and retain their trophy next season.
In the meantime, Manchester City will be looking to get their new season off to a good start when they take on the Wolves away from home on 21 September.
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