Kevin Doyle on Man City v Liverpool, next season’s title race and more
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Talk of who will lift the Premier League next season has already begun and just looking at Pep Guardiola, I think Manchester City will be fired up for next season and go on to win the league.
I thought that Guardiola might leave at the end of this season, but it seems like he is fired up to go again next time to try and get the title back.
City won’t like giving a guard of honour in this game against Liverpool tonight. It might have a psychological effect on them to make a comeback.
City are a team who have such strength in depth, and they have the best squad to win the title next year. It will come down to a fight between Liverpool and City anyway but I’m just siding with City.
I was delighted for Jurgen Klopp. I think he is an excellent manager and I really like the way he speaks, deals with the media, and his brand of football but it will be a great challenge for them to hold onto the title next season.
It’s been a tough few months for the team and the fans having to wait so long for their moment. They have done really well to come through it, kept their head held high, and finish the season off very quickly. There were times when it looked like the season might be null and voided so fair play to them.
Manchester United have come back impressively since lockdown but realistically I don’t think they will be getting their hands on the title next year.
Sheffield United v Tottenham, Thursday 18:00
Sheffield United haven’t started back as well as they would have liked, whereas Spurs have been fine, although they have been quiet.
Jose Mourinho hasn’t been saying a lot and there’s not been much about him in the press. They have sort of slipped under the radar, but I think they seem quite focused and I fancy them to get an away win here.
Next season is going to come very quickly and they will want to end this one strongly. You want to finish the season the way you intend on starting next season.
If it was a normal season and you had two months between seasons, then you’d say it’s fine to take the foot off the gas a bit here, but they’ve had their break and they know next season is coming around quickly.
If I was in those teams, I’d be fired up and thinking these next few performances will keep me in the squad.
Manchester City v Liverpool, Thursday 20:15
It will be a very interesting game tonight. Will Liverpool go out and play really well or have they been partying too hard and want to relax now that they’ve won the title?
For me, I think Man City will win this one. The guard of honour they have to give Liverpool will fire them up for this game. They will want to show Liverpool that they will be champions again.
I think Klopp will have given the team a pass to have a proper celebration. He seems like the type of fella who would say “listen lads, you won a title so enjoy it and have a few parties”. I mean if you can’t celebrate winning a title, what can you celebrate?
If it means they lose the next game or two then so be it. After such an adrenaline release, I think they will experience a come down from all the pressure. I do think we will have goals tonight though, and my prediction is 3-1 Man City. I think there’ll be a bit of a come down from them after the win.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
