Roy Keane tips Manchester City to retain Premier League title despite hectic transfer window activity 

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Joao Cancelo of Manchester City
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Joao Cancelo of Manchester City

Former Manchester United player Roy Keane has tipped Manchester City to retain their Premier League crown ahead of Liverpool again next season.

Pep Guardiola’s side have been the dominant team domestically under the Spaniard, who has guided City to the Premier League title four times in the last five years. Only Jurgen Klopp’s men have been able to deny Guardiola in that period- but they came up agonisingly short on the final day of last season, where they were pipped to the domestic crown by a single point.

The Premier League “Big Six’ have all been very active in the transfer market as they look to boost their title hopes ahead of the new season. 

Liverpool have brought in three players while Chelsea have pulled off a major coup by landing Raheem Sterling in a £47.5million deal. Spurs under Antonio Conte have brought in five new faces to bolster their squad, while Arsenal have signed Gabriel Jesus for a £45m.

Despite the flurry of transfer activities, Keane is adamant that City and Liverpool are still ahead of their top-flight rivals.

When he was asked about Chelsea’s title credentials after signing Sterling, Keane told Sky Bet via The Mirror

“I don’t think they will close the gap. I think they will be a bit better. They have quality and the recruitment, but you can’t look beyond Liverpool and Man City.”

The former Man United man also admitted that he expects Manchester City to win the title again after they captured Erling Haaland. 

He added: “Brilliant players, they’ve obviously improved with an unbelievable striker [Haaland] and they’ve got one of the greatest managers ever in Pep [Guardiola].”

While others have made many signings in this transfer, it’s been a relatively quiet transfer window for Manchester United. Although the Old Trafford side beat Liverpool 4-0 in a friendly in Bangkok, Keane feels that they are still not ready to challenge for the title even though he has tipped his old side to improve under the Dutchman.

The Irishman added: 

“The manager no doubt will be given money to spend, how he recruits. Four or five experienced players have left the club, which I think is a good thing. But I still don’t see United competing with Liverpool and Manchester City, not just yet.”