Danny Gabbidon: 'Liverpool can challenge Manchester City'

By Matt Law, Football EditorPublished: 26 July 2018 1:47 PM

Former West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon backs Liverpool to run Manchester City close for the Premier League title next season.

Former West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon has backed Liverpool to run Manchester City close for the Premier League title next season.

City breezed to the 2017-18 Premier League crown, winning 32 of their 38 matches to finish 19 points clear of second-placed Manchester United.

Gabbidon, however, has claimed that Liverpool are capable of challenging City for next season's title.

"Liverpool are in a good place at the minute," Gabbidon told Sky Sports News. "Defence has been their Achilles' heel for the last couple of seasons, but they've tried to address that by bringing in Virgil van Dijk last season and Alisson Becker. So, you'd expect them to be a lot stronger this season.

"We all know how good they are and the goals they score. It's looking like a much more balanced Liverpool team. Is it good enough to challenge City? I'm not so sure. But, I expect the premier league to be a lot closer this season. I don't see City running away with it like they did last season."

Liverpool recorded a 2-1 win over City when the pair met in the International Champions Cup on Wednesday night.