Sam Allardyce considers Manchester City the frontrunners for the upcoming Premier League season. The ex-England boss has backed Enzo Maresca's side, even after their loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield.
Speaking on the matter, Allardyce stated:
Manchester City will be champions. I think Enzo Maresca will have a fantastic first season. If he doesn’t, he’ll be under pressure.
However, former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson disagreed with Allardyce's prediction, declaring Arsenal as the team to beat:
I wasn’t expecting that from you, Sam. I’m stunned. I’m going with Arsenal. I believe they’ll clinch the title because they are far more consistent than the other title contenders.
Allardyce also weighed in on the prospects for Manchester United. He believes that following a successful last season, the pressure on Michael Carrick will be immensely heightened:
I’m still concerned about Manchester United. Everyone will be watching to see if Michael Carrick can carry on the way he did, as he exceeded expectations last season.
But there’s a flip side — expectations are now sky-high. They simply cannot finish outside the top four. I want Carrick to succeed; now he needs to get even stronger and truly manage the club, not just coach the team.
