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Wayne Rooney has weighed in on the Premier League title race after Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-0 to close the gap on leaders Arsenal. The Gunners dropped points against Sunderland on Saturday, and that saw their gap to City, who sit second in the table, reduced to four points.Arsenal have been in fine form this season, losing just one game. Similarly, Manchester City have enjoyed a decent run of form, losing only one of their last six Premier League matches. The Citizens' commanding win against Liverpool reignited the title race debate, with many now considering Pep Guardiola’s side surprise league contenders.Despite dropping two points against Sunderland, Rooney backed the Gunners to win their first league title since 2004, although he predicted Manchester City would push them all the way.“I think it will be difficult for Liverpool now,” Rooney said on his BBC podcast. “I know Arsenal dropped points at the weekend but you look at their form overall and the way Man City are coming into a great run, it will be difficult for Liverpool. But it’s still early on the season so you never know. I just think Arsenal and Man City are the two favourites now. Arsenal will be a little bit nervous about Man City coming up but I think it will be one of them two. I still probably edge towards Arsenal. I have Arsenal as slight favourites.”Gary Neville believes Manchester City can put pressure on Arsenal in title race after 3-0 win over LiverpoolFormer Manchester United defender Gary Neville also made a fresh Premier League title prediction after City’s convincing 3-0 win over Liverpool. Neville believes City can mount a challenge for the title given their experience but believes Mikel Arteta's side are still the better team. He told Sky Sports:“They are four points off Arsenal, they’ve got experience, they got a few players who’ve been around the block, and they’ve got a manager who knows how to win. And if was Manchester City right now, and I’m sure Pep Guardiola knows how to win title more than any of us. He’ll be just thinking, let me hang on Mikel Arteta’s shoulder come March. Let me be close enough to him to apply that pressure. He’s the one you wouldn’t want near you.“I thought the biggest challenger [to Arsenal] would be Liverpool, I thought Man City were too inconsistent, but I was badly wrong. Man City are still a very good side and it feels like a team that Pep Guardiola’s staying here to build another great side. I don’t quite think they are there. But what they do have is some players and a goalkeeper who know how to win. So, if they can keep those players together and keep some momentum going and get close, they’re going to be really dangerous towards the end just through their experience.“I would say there’s still quite a lot of work to do to convince me that they are going to win the title. I think Arsenal are the better team – but they [Man City] are the one team and the one manager you wouldn’t want on your shoulder going down the back straight.”The Gunners have endured near misses in the Premier League, finishing as runners-up in each of the last three seasons.
