Arne Slot expects Manchester City to cover the following season for the Premier League title after their surprising struggles this campaign.
Liverpool is eight points clearly at the Premier League -top before Sunday's visit on Pep Guardiola side, which were fourth in the table and 17 points behind the leaders.
City was still able to secure the qualification for the Champions League, the competition in which they were eliminated by Real Madrid last week, but it was a disappointing season for the men of Guardiola.
However, there are positive signs for City, since only Liverpool and Arsenal have won more points since Christmas in the Premier League than City (17 – W5 D2 L1).
Slot believes that their revival in form is a sign of the coming things, and expects City to come back to fight for the Top-Flight Kroon in the next term.
“Everyone is surprised that City is not there because they have been there for so many years,” Slot told Sky Sports.
“They have a great manager who has shown that he can be there every season. So I don't think someone would have expected them to be so many points behind us now. I see that they are coming up again.
“I think they were very good against Newcastle last weekend. They have already brought in three or four new players, so I think everyone knows that this is probably a one -off season that they are not there.
“Everyone knows that this is a one -off season that they are not there, and everyone, at least I, expect them to be there again next season because you can already see them go up. So that's a surprise, but I think they already be much better.
“They started the season well. I think they are coming again. But they have dropped too many points in a difficult period of the season, where they also had many injuries. And then this competition is ruthless. If you are not Your best, then every game is difficult.
TAA on goal previous time -Out on the Etihad #mciliv pic.twitter.com/fghgsrucsb
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) 22 February 2025
Liverpool wants to complete the Premier League Double on City on Sunday (also 2005-06 and 2015-16) the third time (also 2005-06 and 2015-16). However, the Reds have only won one of their last 15 trips to the Etihad Stadium in the competition.
Slot's side were 2-0 winners in the reverse match in Anfield, although Virgil van Dijk remains on his guard for the threat of the city.
“One hundred percent,” Van Dijk said when he was asked if City will remain a threat despite their fight in 2024-25.
'They beat Newcastle [United] 4-0 recently. They were champion four times in a row for a reason. So they earn all the respect they get and we will certainly give them.
“But on Sunday we go there and try to win the game. And we know it will be difficult because we have not won there in the Premier League, we all know that.
“But we have to go outside with being brave, together with our fans and giving everything we have and try to get a step closer.”
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