Peter Crouch names Premier League title favourites and predicts top four

Peter Crouch says Arsenal remain the ‘best team in the Premier League’ and should be deemed the favourites to win the title again this coming season.

After three successive runners-up finishes, the Gunners eased to the title with a game to spare last term, ending the campaign with a seven-point advantage over nearest rivals Manchester City.

It brought the club’s painful 22-year wait for top-flight glory to a halt and there were raucous scenes as jubilant fans flocked to north London to soak up the moment of history.

Six days after Martin Odegaard and Co held aloft the coveted trophy at Selhurst Park, though, PSG ensured Arsenal’s hopes of a double went up in smoke in the Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta’s side will no doubt be looking to use their disappointment in Europe for motivation heading into the new Premier League season, which starts at home to newly promoted Coventry City in nine days’ time.

First, Arsenal take to the field against Manchester City for what promises to be an intriguing Community Shield showdown in Cardiff, where marquee £75million signing Bruno Guimaraes may be given the chance to make his official debut.

Making his predictions for the 2026/27 campaign on That Peter Crouch Podcast, ex-England striker Crouch picked out Arteta’s men as the team to beat again, declaring: ‘He [Arteta] delivered and they got to a Champions League final. I’m going to go with Arsenal.

He later added: ‘It’s an interesting season this one but I think Arsenal are the best team in the league.’

Crouch proceeded to further put his neck on the line by revealing his predicted top-four, leaving out two of his former clubs in Liverpool and Tottenham.

‘I’m going to go for Arsenal to win it, City second, Manchester United third and Chelsea,’ he said.

On United, Crouch continued: ‘I don’t want them to win the league but I think they have improved.

‘Is it different now Michael Carrick has got the job full-time? We’ll see.’

Having attended Liverpool pre-season clash with Wrexham, Crouch is not convinced his former club have enough to be title contenders just yet under new manager Andoni Iraola.

‘There were a lot of players missing, they played a lot of the youngsters,’ he explained.

‘[Lewis] Koumas looked sharp, Trey Nyoni looks like a good player. Not a lot others played, [Dominik] Szoboszlai played.

‘I’m not sure on Liverpool. I think the manager is great, I just don’t know if the squad is there after losing the players that they’ve lost in the last couple of seasons.

‘It’s hurt them. Have they been replaced? I’m not so sure.

‘It’ll be interesting to see Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike when they come back. I know Isak scored against Monaco, it’ll be interesting to see how they go.

‘I don’t think they can win the league this year.’

Crouch, who enjoyed three seasons at Anfield, went on: ‘I think they’ve got a great manager in charge and a couple of windows, they’ll be challenging again.’

The ex-England international didn’t think twice when quizzed on who he felt would scoop the Golden Boot award come the end of the season.

‘[Erling] Haaland gets another 30 goals. He’s a machine,’ Crouch said.

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