Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has cautioned current Premier League frontrunners Arsenal and Manchester City not to dismiss the threat of Liverpool, despite the Reds’ inconsistent start to their title defense.
Speaking on his podcast this week, the five-time Premier League winner noted that while the “Top Two” appear to be breaking away, Liverpool’s pedigree as the 2024/25 champions makes them a sleeping giant that could still “have a say” in the final standings.
Rooney acknowledged that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s City are the favorites to battle for the crown, but he emphasized that the momentum of a winning streak could propel Arne Slot’s side back into the conversation.
“It looks like Arsenal and Man City are going to be the two to break away… but Liverpool as well, if they get a run of form and win a few games you never rule them out. If they get that support behind them they can have a say. I wouldn’t rule them out.”
The State of Play: Christmas 2025
As the league enters the busy festive period, the race at the top is exceptionally tight. Arsenal secured the “Christmas Number One” spot following a vital 1–0 win over Everton, while Manchester City remains hot on their heels thanks to the record-breaking form of Erling Haaland, who recently surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo on the all-time Premier League scoring list.
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