According to former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, Liverpool are the top contenders to win the Premier League this season.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shared a warm embrace with Wataru Endo after their Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. The former Arsenal defender, Martin Keown, has declared Liverpool as the “firm favourites” to win the Premier League this season.

Last Sunday, Manchester City and Arsenal played out a goalless draw in a highly-anticipated clash at the Etihad Stadium, allowing Liverpool to finish the weekend two points clear at the top of the table following their 2-1 victory over Brighton.

With only nine games remaining in the Premier League season, Liverpool will face Manchester United at Old Trafford on May 11, and all three title contenders are set to play against fifth-placed Tottenham. Keown believes that Liverpool’s match against United could be a crucial moment in the title race, but he still believes that Jurgen Klopp’s side is on track to secure the league title.

“It’s wide open between now and the end of the season,” Keown stated in an interview with TNT Sports before Arsenal’s clash against Luton on Wednesday. “Liverpool have the points; they look like the favourites. But Arsenal have to get the job done. City, we know, are quite magnificent. They’re born winners in that group, and their manager is a serial winner. The difference this year is that they can win every game, but it doesn’t mean that they’re going to be champions. Liverpool have the points.”

Keown emphasized the significance of Liverpool’s upcoming match against Manchester United, stating, “I’d be going into their game against Manchester United saying ‘If we can beat Man United, who finished our season in the FA Cup, we can be Premier League champions.’ It’s that big. I definitely feel that it could be the turning point. It’s quite a tough game; they want payback. There’s lots of motivation for many reasons. Liverpool being two points ahead of Arsenal makes them firm favourites.”

Looking at Manchester City’s remaining fixtures, which include matches against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Luton, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Fulham, West Ham, and Tottenham, Luton captain Tom Lockyer believes that City’s run-in and their experience in winning titles will be a concern for Liverpool and Arsenal. “It’s going to go right to the wire,” Lockyer said. “The thing that Liverpool and Arsenal will be worried about is that City can win every game. They’ve proved that, year after year, that they have the capability to do that.”