18 January 2024 , 12:00
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Michael Owen has stuck with his pre-season prediction that Manchester City will win the Premier League, but isn't ruling out former club Liverpool.
Liverpool went into the campaign with a new-look midfield, adding Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch to their ranks. The summer splurge came after the loss of several senior stars, with Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho among those to leave Anfield.
And yet, after passing the halfway mark of the season, Jurgen Klopp's side sit top of the pile. The new midfielders have played their part, but there has also been plenty of help from the academy with Curtis Jones thriving in midfield and Trent Alexander-Arnold occasionally stepping into a more advanced role.
Liverpool ran City desperately close in the 2021-22 season, with Pep Guardiola's side only sealing the title on the final weekend of the season with 93 points. Owen expects a lower tally to be enough this term, but feels his former employers are very much in contention.
"If you're asking me who I think will win it, I think Manchester City will win it," Owen told Mirror Football at a screening of his new documentary 'Football is for Everyone'. I thought that at the start of the season and don't want to necessarily change my mind now but I've been very impressed with Liverpool.
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"Of course they can [win it], they're top of the league and we're past halfway so of course they can win it. I've been really impressed with the way there's been an evolution there - the whole midfield has totally changed - and even though they're getting used to new players, a new system, new everything, they've continued to win, which is a great sign, because I can only see the team getting better and better.
"I don't think the points total will be what it has been in recent years. I think you'll win it with an eight before as opposed to a nine this year. City will have to drop a little bit from last season points total wise and Liverpool will have to up their game, but it looks like both of those things are happening at the minute so it's going to be a closer title race."
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Owen made the prediction at a screening of his new documentary (TNT Sports)Alexander-Arnold has played 18 of Liverpool's 20 league games as they sit two points clear of reigning champions City, while Jones has 12 appearances and centre-back Jarell Quansah six. Harvey Elliott, who joined from Fulham at the age of 16, has made 16 appearances of his own and scored a vital winner from the bench against Crystal Palace in December.
"I think some of the great teams over the years, I think you'd suggest an academy influence and a homegrown influence is very important," Owen said. "You look at the great Manchester United team when I was growing up, it was basically an academy-based team. The team that I was at for years and years, the likes of Fowler, McManaman, Gerrard, Carragher... the list goes on and on and on.
"Successful teams have often had that type of player - Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been there for many years now - and I think it's great for the club. Fans enjoy that, can relate to that, so it's nice to see. And they're not just squad players, they've actually had a nice role to play in the team."
'Football is for Everyone’ starring Michael and James Owen premieres on TNT Sports 1 at 11pm on 30th January. Sign up to TNT Sports and discovery+ here