Emile Heskey says it will be ‘difficult’ for Liverpool to retain the Premier League trophy and has backed four teams to mount title challenges next season.
Liverpool blew away their domestic rivals this season to draw level with arch-rivals Manchester United on 20 English league titles.
Losing just twice all season, Liverpool brushed off an early challenge from Chelsea and a more sustained bid from Arsenal to win their first league title since 2020.
Arne Slot’s side could yet finish on 94 points and will soon turn their attentions to a title defence.
Manchester City won four Premier League trophies in a row before their stranglehold over the title came to an end in underwhelming fashion this season.
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Pep Guardiola’s side are just fourth – 21 points adrift of Liverpool – with four games remaining, but Heskey expects Pep Guardiola’s side to ‘come back strong’ next year.
The ex-England striker believes Arsenal will also be in the title mix for the fourth year in a row while he has surprisingly backed Newcastle United and Aston Villa to be ‘right at the top of the table’ next season.
Newcastle have climbed to third this term – five points behind second-placed Arsenal – while ending their long wait for a major trophy by winning the Carabao Cup.
Aston Villa are also in the hunt for a top-five place with a few games remaining and went deep in both the Champions League and FA Cup under hugely respected manager Unai Emery.
‘It will be difficult for Liverpool to retain the title next season, but they have a great squad and manager, so they are definitely capable,’ Heskey told Metro via Best New Bingo Sites.
‘I think Man City will come back stronger next season, and I think it is just the Pep Guardiola factor that makes me believe that.
‘Arsenal will also be on their heels. With Arsenal, I feel like it’s only a matter of time before they take that next step and win the league.
Graeme Souness names Liverpool’s biggest rival for the title next season
‘I hope these Liverpool players feel that this could be the start of a dominating period once again for Liverpool.
‘That won’t be so easy as England’s top tier is a super difficult competition to win, and I still consider Manchester City to be the biggest threat to Liverpool come August.
‘Arsenal have threatened but Mikel Arteta knows he must improve his squad with three or four quality additions, or they will come up short once again.’
Speaking to the Daily Mail
‘Aston Villa and Newcastle will also be right up at the top of the league again next season, assuming Newcastle will have the power to spend in the summer, if PSR is holding them back, it’ll be hard to sustain their form.’
As for this season’s race for Champions League football, Heskey has backed Aston Villa to join Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and Manchester City in Europe’s top cup competition.
That would mean Chelsea and Nottingham Forest missing out on the Champions League and dropping down to the Europa League.
‘I’m excited to see the race for the Champions League, it’s going to be really exciting,’ the ex-Premier League striker added.
‘I really hope Villa sneak in, and I think they are capable of doing it, but they need a bit of luck with other results.
‘I have Villa sneaking in fifth behind Man City, Newcastle, Arsenal and of course Liverpool.
‘I think Forest have had a fantastic season, but may just burn out, and the battle for fifth between Forest, Chelsea and Villa will be interesting. But I hope Villa get it with Chelsea and Forest in the Europa League.’
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