Mohamed Salah makes surprise admission over Premier League title favourites – as he piles pressure on Liverpool rivals

Mohamed Salah has surprisingly claimed Liverpool are not favourites to win the Premier League this season, as the Reds’ talisman put pressure on one their rivals to win the title.

Liverpool were runaway winners last season with Arne Slot‘s side finishing 10 points clear of their nearest rivals Arsenal.

Salah played a pivotal role by finishing as the Premier League’s top scorer with 29 goals, along with contributing a career-best 18 assists.

The Egyptian’s performances led to him being crowned PFA Player of the Year for the third time on Tuesday night.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Salah suggested that Liverpool are not the favourites to win the league this season.

This is despite Liverpool spending £321million during the summer transfer window, with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike among their major signings, costing £116m and £79m respectively.

Salah instead suggested Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal should be considered favourites at this stage.

The Gunners have finished second in the past three seasons and have also had a summer of significant reinforcement, with the £63million signing of forward Viktor Gyokeres viewed as a key addition.

Salah claimed the continuity of the Arsenal squad should make them ready to take the next step and lift the Premier League trophy. 

‘I think you have a great team this season as you did last season,’ Salah said when asked about Arsenal

‘You have really good chance. I think you are the favourite now because you players who have been together for five years.

‘I can’t say I’ll wish you luck, hopefully we do it again.’

Despite Salah’s assertion, Liverpool are currently considered as the bookmakers favourites to be crowned champions.

Arsenal are viewed as the second favourites, ahead of Man City and Chelsea.

Man City joined Liverpool and Arsenal in winning on the opening day of the season, with Pep Guardiola’s side having cruised to a 4-0 victory over Wolves.

Guardiola will be hoping his Man City squad bounce back from a disappointing 2024-25 season, where they finished 13 points adrift of winners Liverpool.

Man City had been crowned champions in the previous four Premier League seasons prior to their underwhelming campaign.

Salah’s opinion was shared by former Man United defender Gary Neville, who highlighted Arsenal’s consistency earlier this week when the pundit tipped the Gunners to win the league.

‘I couldn’t separate them, so I have gone with the team I have gone with for the past three years, feeling that they are reliable, solid and consistent, which I think is important,’ Neville said.

‘They are consistently getting high points totals and finishing second to great teams, I think they have improved themselves, I think [Viktor] Gyokeres will do well for Arsenal.

‘I think they have the right material at the front of the pitch and I think Gyokeres will.’