‘From what I’ve seen’ – Pep Guardiola makes Liverpool title prediction ahead of Arsenal v Man City clash

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes both Liverpool and Arsenal will be among those to challenge for the Premier League title this season – but insists it is difficult to draw conclusions after just seven games.

Guardiola takes City to North London to face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, just hours after Liverpool make the trip to the South Coast to take on Brighton & Hove Albion.

Having won their first six games of the new campaign, the defending champions suffered their first defeat last weekend when they were beaten 2-1 by Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Now, with Liverpool and Arsenal sitting just two and three points behind City respectively, Guardiola admits he is expecting both sides to provide strong competition as his team look to secure a fourth consecutive Premier League title.

“Absolutely [Arsenal are contenders], among Liverpool from what I’ve seen,” said Guardiola ahead of City’s visit to the Emirates “But to analyse who is the title contenders, the idea is the first 10 games.

“Now we didn’t even play 10 so we have to wait, but the big clubs will always be contenders and Arsenal is, of course.”

Manchester City will be without Rodri for their showdown with last season’s runners-up Arsenal. The Spaniard will serve the third and final match of his three-game suspension following his red card against Nottingham Forest last month.

Over at Brighton, meanwhile, Liverpool will be without Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota after both players were sent off during last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.