Liverpool are title favorites over Manchester City for one key reason, and Arsenal are not contenders.
Liverpool can take Manchester City to the Premier League title.
This is the view of former Reds and City midfielder Didi Hamann, who believes Rodri's absence could prove pivotal in the title race.
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The red ones They sit just one point behind leaders and defending champions Manchester City after their first nine league games, and have struggled to secure a place. 2-2 draw with rival Arsenal in his last game.
Liverpool came back twice against gunnerswith Mohamed Salah scoring the equalizer in the 81st minute to get a point in a match in which they were far from their best level.
Elsewhere in the title race, city man achieved a well-deserved 1-0 victory over the last placed team Southampton.
This comes after they recorded wins by one-goal margins against both. wolves and Fulham in their previous two league games, with the Citizens fighting for control after a season that ended injury to key midfielder Rodri.
And with the absence of Spanish clearly affecting pep guardiolaside, and hamann He believes this makes the Reds favorites to win the Premier League this season.
Discuss the city's title credentials in talkSPORT breakfastHe said: “We know they still have a lot of quality in their team.
“The question will be: can they last a season without Rodri? Because it is the heartbeat of the team.
“If you don't have defensive stability, if you don't have balance in your team, that also affects your club's offensive game.
“That's why I'm slightly in favor of Liverpool. “I think Liverpool have a great opportunity this season to improve.”
Having finished second behind City in the last two campaigns, Rodri's injury was seen by many as a major boost to Arsenal's title aspirations.
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But for Hamann, however, the Gunners' inability to go all the way in consecutive seasons means they are not contenders in his eyes.
He continued: “Arsenal played very hard the last two seasons, they couldn't get the job done, so I don't think they can win the title this season. I think it will be between City and Liverpool.
“And at this moment I have to say that I slightly prefer Liverpool because of Rodri's absence.”
The former Germany international also highlighted the ability of his two former clubs to pick up points despite their performances as a clear sign that they are top-tier clubs.
Before their draw with Arsenal, Arne SlotThe group put in a professional performance to beat RB Leipzig in the Champions League, having also recorded a very close victory on Chelsea days before.
On City's recent results, Hamann said: “That's the sign of a good team.
“I think it is similar to Liverpool. I think that if you don't play well and win games, it's always a very good sign. That's what they do.”
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Hamann's former club will surely see their ability to achieve results tested over the next month as they enter a difficult stage of the season.
The Reds' next seven games will pit them against the Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and champions of the Champions League real Madridas well as Premier League clashes with the top six teams Brighton and Villa Aston.
Their busy schedule will reach arguably its toughest point on December 1, when they face City in a potentially huge match to decide the outcome of the title race.
