Keane Sticks with Arsenal Despite City's Statement Victory
Football pundit and Manchester United legend Roy Keane has doubled down on his pre-season Premier League title prediction, declaring he is still backing Arsenal for glory despite Manchester City's emphatic 3-0 win over Liverpool. The crucial match at the Etihad Stadium, which was Pep Guardiola's 1,000th game in management, dramatically reshuffled the top of the table over the weekend of November 9, 2025.
City Dominate in Guardiola's Landmark Match
The highly anticipated clash saw Manchester City deliver a commanding performance against the defending champions. Erling Haaland broke the deadlock with a deflected header, though Liverpool thought they had found an immediate response. Their equaliser was, however, controversially ruled out for offside. Capitalising on this reprieve, City doubled their lead right on the stroke of half-time through a deflected strike from Nico Gonzalez.
Any hopes of a Liverpool fightback were extinguished on the hour mark when the impressive Jeremy Doku curled in a superb third goal for the home side. This statement 3-0 win propelled Guardiola's team up to second place in the Premier League, now sitting just four points behind the early leaders, Arsenal.
Liverpool in 'Crisis' as Title Defence Falters
For Liverpool, the defeat compounds a troubled start to their title defence. The loss at the Etihad means they have now suffered five league defeats in their opening fixtures, leaving them languishing in eighth position in the table. Keane did not mince his words when assessing their situation, stating bluntly, "I think it is crisis time for Liverpool."
He elaborated on Sky Sports, criticising the team's lack of intensity and decision-making. "I thought Liverpool looked like a really weak team today," Keane said. "The manager said he was pleased with the second half, but the game was over! It's easy to play well when you're not playing for anything."
While Keane acknowledged that Manchester City have rediscovered their spark, with Haaland a "goal machine" and Phil Foden's return boosting the squad, he ultimately believes the title will head to North London. "The signs are good for Man City – I think they're back in the mix," he conceded, "but I'll stick with Arsenal." This endorsement comes despite the Gunners seeing their brilliant ten-game winning streak end with a 2-2 draw away at Sunderland, a result that allowed City to close the gap.
