David Seaman has made a bold call about the Premier League title race, and Manchester City are not his main pick to challenge Arsenal.
The former Arsenal and England goalkeeper believes Liverpool could emerge as the biggest threat to the reigning champions during the 2026/27 campaign. Seaman’s prediction is particularly interesting because the Reds have entered a new era under Andoni Iraola after parting ways with Arne Slot.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have already made an impressive start to their title defence. Mikel Arteta’s side opened the new Premier League season with a convincing 3-0 victory over Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard were on target for the Gunners.
The result immediately strengthened the feeling that Arsenal have the quality to compete for another league title.
However, Seaman believes Liverpool could be the team best equipped to push them.
David Seaman Chooses Liverpool Over Manchester City
Seaman’s prediction is notable because Manchester City have traditionally been among the strongest contenders in the Premier League.
Yet the former Arsenal goalkeeper has placed Liverpool ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side when considering Arsenal’s potential challengers.
According to Seaman, Liverpool possess the quality and squad depth required to compete across a long Premier League season.
“I still think City will be strong, but I’m going for Liverpool,” Seaman said, as quoted by GiveMeSport.
He also pointed to Liverpool’s squad depth as one of the reasons behind his choice.
For Seaman, that depth could become particularly important as the season progresses. A Premier League title race is decided over many months, meaning injuries, rotation and consistency can have a major influence on the final standings.
Arsenal Begin Title Defence in Style
While Seaman discusses potential challengers, Arsenal have already provided an early reminder of why they are considered serious favourites.
The Gunners defeated Coventry City 3-0 in their opening Premier League fixture.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring before Bukayo Saka doubled the advantage. Ødegaard then added Arsenal’s third shortly after half-time.
The result was especially significant because Arsenal entered the season as defending champions after ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title.
Their opening performance suggested that the pressure of finally winning the championship has not affected the squad.
Instead, Arsenal looked confident and controlled against Coventry.
Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka were among the standout performers, while new signing Christos Tzolis also attracted attention during his Premier League debut. Tzolis was heavily involved in Arsenal’s attacking play and helped create opportunities in the opening stages.
Why Liverpool Could Be Arsenal’s Biggest Threat
Seaman’s decision to back Liverpool is based largely on the quality available within the squad.
Liverpool may have entered a period of transition, but they still possess significant experience and attacking quality.
The key question is whether Iraola can quickly establish his own tactical identity.
The Spanish coach replaced Arne Slot after the previous season and arrived at Anfield following a successful spell with Bournemouth, where he guided the club into European competition.
That means Liverpool are facing a significant change at managerial level.
For a team hoping to challenge for the Premier League title, adapting quickly will be essential.
Liverpool’s strengths could include:
- Quality throughout the squad.
- Significant experience at the highest level.
- Strong attacking options.
- Depth that can help during a long season.
- A new manager with Premier League experience.
However, those strengths will need to translate into consistent results.
Liverpool’s Start Raises Questions
Unlike Arsenal, Liverpool did not begin the new Premier League campaign with a victory.
The Reds were held to a 2-2 draw by Newcastle United in their opening fixture.
Liverpool appeared to be heading towards defeat before Dominik Szoboszlai converted a late penalty to rescue a point.
The result means Iraola still has plenty of work to do as he attempts to establish his Liverpool team.
A draw at Newcastle is not necessarily a major setback in isolation. However, if Liverpool want to challenge Arsenal throughout the season, they will need to turn promising performances into victories.
That will be one of the first major tests of Iraola’s reign.
Liverpool Still Have Work to Do in the Squad
Another issue surrounding Liverpool is their transfer activity.
The Reds have also experienced important departures from the squad. Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté have left the defensive unit, while Curtis Jones is another notable departure from the midfield options.
Those changes could create additional pressure on the club to ensure its replacements settle quickly.
Squad depth was one of the main reasons Seaman selected Liverpool as Arsenal’s potential challenger. However, the departures mean that depth must be assessed over the course of the season rather than simply on paper.
The ability of new players to adapt could therefore become a decisive factor.
Manchester City Still Cannot Be Written Off
Although Seaman selected Liverpool, he was not dismissive of Manchester City.
He still expects City to be strong during the 2026/27 campaign.
That is hardly surprising given their status as one of the Premier League’s established powerhouses.
However, Seaman’s view changed somewhat after City’s result against Arsenal in the Community Shield.
The former goalkeeper suggested that the performance influenced his thinking about the title race.
His prediction does not mean Manchester City have suddenly become irrelevant.
Instead, it highlights how competitive the upcoming Premier League season could be.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all have the resources to challenge near the top, while other clubs will also be hoping to disrupt the established order.
Can Arsenal Retain the Premier League Title?
Arsenal have one major advantage at the beginning of the campaign: they know what it takes to win the Premier League.
After waiting 22 years for their latest league title, the Gunners no longer carry the same burden of having to prove they can finish the job.
Their 3-0 victory over Coventry offered an early indication that Arteta’s team remain highly motivated.
But defending the title could prove more difficult.
Liverpool have a new manager, Manchester City remain a major force, and the pressure will increase as the season progresses.
For Seaman, Liverpool are the team most likely to finish closest to Arsenal.
The Title Race Is Only Just Beginning
David Seaman’s decision to back Liverpool over Manchester City adds another intriguing layer to the 2026/27 Premier League title race.
Arsenal have already made the perfect start, while Liverpool have a point to prove after their opening draw at Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Manchester City remain a serious contender despite Seaman’s preference for Liverpool.
The coming months will reveal whether the former Arsenal goalkeeper has made the right call.
For now, Arsenal sit at the front of the conversation as defending champions. But if Liverpool can adapt quickly under Iraola and make full use of their squad depth, Seaman believes they could become the team best positioned to challenge the Gunners for another Premier League crown.
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