Rio Ferdinand revealed his latest Premier League title prediction after Manchester United stunned defending champions Liverpool.
Arne Slot’s champions suffered a fourth successive defeat as United won 2-1 on Sunday – their first victory at Anfield since 2016.
Bryan Mbeumo put the visitors ahead inside two minutes after referee Michael Olivier controversially allowed play to proceed despite Alexis Mac Allister’s head injury.
Liverpool got here near an equaliser on quite a few occasions before Cody Gakpo finally drew the hosts level on 78 minutes.
The momentum seemed to be with Liverpool but it surely was Manchester United who snatched the three points because of Maguire’s late header from an inventive Bruno Fernandes cross.
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A fourth straight defeat leaves Liverpool fourth within the Premier League – just two points above ninth-placed Man United and 4 behind current pacesetters Arsenal.
Arsenal were five points adrift of Liverpool just a couple of weeks ago but while the Reds have lost three league games in a row, Arsenal have taken full points in that period.
The Gunners’ latest win was a 1-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday, earned courtesy of Leandro Trossard’s second-half goal.
Arsenal have finished second for the past three seasons but Ferdinand believes Mikel Arteta is finally set to get his hands on the trophy.
Asked who he’s backing within the title race after Manchester United beat Liverpool, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ‘I said before a ball was kicked this season that Arsenal, that is their likelihood to win the league.
‘I felt that they had to do it this yr and couldn’t come second again. They’ve got an exquisite group of players, it’s probably the perfect squad when it comes to depth within the league.
‘They recruited well in the summertime and located a way again against Fulham yesterday. They’re my favourites to win the Premier League.’
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted it was an ‘interesting time’ for the Premier League champions, who were widely tipped to retain the trophy before the season following a staggering summer spending spree.
‘It’s an interesting time but we’ve to stay together, not only us as players but as a club and the fans who want us to win,’ he said.
‘We want to remain humble and stay working and keep our confidence as high as possible. When things get tough, it can be crucial we keep the mentality of being there for one another. It’s a protracted season.
‘I believe we conceded a really sloppy second goal. We worked so hard to get back into the sport and we created great opportunities to attain the winner but if you happen to concede a second goal like that, that’s the disappointing part.
‘In the event you have a look at the sport as a complete, we were far too rushed. I believe they were very patient they didn’t press us high but they didn’t allow us to on the ball. We still created many opportunities to attain but the fact is that we lost.’
Anfield legend Jamie Carragher has major doubts over Liverpool’s title probabilities given the team’s poor form.
‘Liverpool are still conceding goals and large probabilities,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘I don’t think there may be one glaring problem, it’s a number of things.
‘The brand new signings are usually not in control but in addition a few of Liverpool’s great players from last season are nowhere near the extent they were.
‘They’re making errors. It’s not quite happening for Liverpool. I’m apprehensive for Liverpool, not only due to the results however the performances as well.’
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