Micah Richards has dismissed Liverpool’s chances in this year’s title race and backed Pep Guardiola to win his sixth Premier League trophy with Manchester City.
Top-of-the-table Arsenal sit above second-placed Liverpool on goal difference with ten games remaining of the campaign, with defending champions City one point off the pace in third.
Last year’s treble winners welcome Arsenal to the Etihad this weekend for what promises to be a crucial match in the context of the season, while Liverpool play host to Brighton.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are riding an imperious eight-match winning streak in the top flight and will no doubt take encouragement from their victory over City in October’s reverse fixture, when Gabriel Martinelli scored late on to seal all three points.
Injuries to John Stones and Kyle Walker have threatened to derail City’s preparation heading into Sunday’s heavyweight encounter. However, Guardiola confirmed both Ederson and Manuel Akanji should be fit to feature at his pre-match press conference.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are sweating over the fitness of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes, who all appeared to be missing from training on Friday.
Previewing the weekend’s action on The Rest Is Football podcast, former City defender Richards – who grew up an Arsenal fan – claimed the Gunners would likely have to win at the Etihad to keep their title hopes alive.
Asked whether Liverpool could win this year’s title, Richard told host Gary Lineker: ‘No, they’re not going to win the league. I think it’s Manchester City or Arsenal… I think Manchester City will win the league.
‘It depends what happens on Sunday. If Arsenal go to the Etihad and win…
‘I think Arsenal have to win, I think they have to win. Manchester City’s record is incredible.
‘Manchester City are without Stones and Kyle Walker, [Erling] Haaland has been up and down in the media and saying is he fit, is he not fit… Akanji, Ederson.
‘I just feel with Arsenal… remember last season when they had that opportunity and they had a few wobbles around this time last season and they could go to Man City, win that game and put a cat amongst the pigeons. And Man City just walked over them.
‘This is a massive, massive day and if Arsenal can win, they can win the league.’
Though Richards is thought to be a lifelong fan of Arsenal, he hopes to see City come away with maximum points this weekend.
‘I want Arsenal to do really well, just from the team and Arteta’s point of view and how far they have come as a young team,’ he added.
‘But Pep and his greatness… I want to see him win as much as possible so I want Manchester City to win.’
The ex-England international added: ‘City have won everything and that’s what I mean by greatness with Pep Guardiola. He’s set the standard, that’s what the standard is.
‘Talking about Sunday, I want Manchester City to win as much they possibly can so we can look back and think, “Wow, we’re watching this greatness!”
‘And if it wasn’t for Pep, it would have been all Liverpool. That’s how good a manager Pep is and the team he’s built.’
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