Rio Ferdinand changes Premier League title race prediction with new Liverpool verdict

Liverpool are the only Premier League club to win all of their first three matches to start this season, with Chelsea being the one other unbeaten team thus far

Rio Ferdinand believes Liverpool failing to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day is the only thing that will stop them from "cleaning up everything" this season. Nonetheless, the former Manchester United player-turned-pundit still believes they had the best window by far.

In June, he proclaimed, "it's only going to be between Liverpool and Manchester City next season". Ferdinand has now narrowed that prediction down to one club - and named Arsenal as the Reds' main competitors for the title.

The gap between both clubs is already six points after City lost to Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur before the international break. Chelsea are the only other unbeaten side through three matches, but Ferdinand does not believe they will be their closest challengers throughout the entire season.

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"I think you always have to have respect for the champions, no matter who it is," he has told the Daily Mail. "Champions normally go into the following season as the team to beat; that's inevitable.

"If you look at the way Liverpool have recruited in the summer, they've had the best window by far. Their intentions were pure and clean and transparent from the get-go, and they managed to execute everything apart from Marc Guehi; if they had got Marc Guehi, I think they would have cleaned up everything, to be honest.

"I think the only team who will be anywhere near Liverpool this season is Arsenal. They've got a great squad, real good depth with who they've bought. I think they've had a good window, and if [Viktor] Gyokeres comes good, it puts them in a better position.

"I don't think we'll see anyone else. Anyone you think might be a surprise, a Newcastle [United] or a Chelsea, I think European football [with both qualifying for the Champions League league phase] hinders them a little bit in that respect."

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