Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand changes Man City Premier League title race prediction

The Premier League returns this weekend with Arsenal kicking things off against Nottingham Forest and already, Rio Ferdinand has changed his thoughts on the title race

Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand no longer believes that Manchester City will be Liverpool's nearest title rivals in the Premier League this season.

We are just three matches into the Premier League season but already questions are being asked about a number of teams. City began the season full of optimism after a good transfer window.

However, defeats against Tottenham and Brighton ensure that they sit below rivals United ahead of the first Manchester derby of the season on Sunday. While the Blues have faltered, their rivals have mostly flourished.

Defending champions Liverpool have won three from three, Chelsea are unbeaten as well while Arsenal had a 100 per cent record before visiting Anfield in the last fixture before the international break. Ahead of the Premier League resuming this weekend, Ferdinand explained to the Daily Mail how he now feels that it will be the Gunners that stand the best shot of displacing Arne Slot's men this season.

"I think you always have to have respect for the champions, no matter who it is," the former centre-back replied when asked about the title race. "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 or a Chelsea, I think European football hinders them a little bit in that respect."

Back in June, fresh off the season ending, Ferdinand told his YouTube subscribers that it would only be City and Liverpool battling for the title this campaign. "It's only going to be between Liverpool and Man City next season," he said.

"Arsenal might kick up a fuss for a couple of months – six months maybe – [but nothing more]. Arsenal's signings right now look likely to be [Christian] Norgaard, who is 31 years old, Kepa [Arrizabalaga], who was a reserve keeper at Chelsea, and Martin Zubimendi, but the entire fan base is crying out for a centre forward or a left winger." Guardiola is unlikely to be bothered about Ferdinand's reluctance to back his team in the title race this season but he will be hopeful his team do not concede too great a gap to Liverpool early doors.

Before matchday four, City already sit six points behind the Merseyside club. However, a win on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium and momentum could shift entirely back in City's favour.

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