Steven Gerrard has warned that Manchester City will be their biggest rivals for the title next season – but he doesn’t expect to be anywhere near the top. The Reds will aim to defend their 20th league title in 2025/26 following ’s successful debut campaign and has named the sides to worry about.

Liverpool finished 10 points clear of this season, securing their first title since 2020 with on April 27. They boasted the league’s best attack – thanks largely to top-scorer , who managed 29 goals himself – and the second-best defence.

The club are keen to reinforce their squad in the and have already and are chasing the . Slot will have the summer to build a new squad, but former Liverpool captain Gerrard is expecting tougher opposition next season.

"It’s the most difficult league in the ,” he told . “Liverpool will be well aware that City are going to come back, Arsenal are looking stronger again, the likes of are building nicely, , Villa are coming in behind.

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"Liverpool will be well aware that they're going to be the ones that are hunted now. But evidence suggests that Liverpool are going to be strong in the transfer market, so Liverpool are the team to catch for sure."

City rallied to finish third in the Premier League, just three points behind Arsenal – who finished second for the third straight year – but saw their title chances evaporate early in the season. However, has signed a new contract and City will have key Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri back available for the start of the next campaign.

Gerrard added: "I think you've got to be wary of City and Guardiola. The best manager in the world. They've done it four years on the spin, they lost Rodri, which was a big blow to them.

"I think with a fully fit squad, and they're going to recruit as well, the team that finishes above City will win it again and hopefully, that’s Liverpool."

HAVE YOUR SAY! Do you agree with Steven Gerrard? .

United finished 15th in Ruben Amorim’s debut season and their defeat in the final against means they won’t play any European football next season. They will undergo the biggest squad overhaul of all Premier League clubs this summer, with Matheus Cunha expected to be the first of many arrivals once goes through.

But United will clearly need more time to improve under Amorim before they can compete for the title once again. "We are not ready to play in the Premier League, be competitive, and to be in the ," he admitted last month.

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