Writing for the BBC, Jermaine Jenas believes Liverpool will win the Premier League title after Fernandinho left Manchester City.
What’s the story?
Well, the 39-year-old claims that Pep Guardiola has now “lost his leader” at the Etihad Stadium, and feels the Brazilian’s exit will see Liverpool win their second Premier League title.
Jenas wrote: “With Fernandinho leaving, they have lost their leader in the dressing room and, overall, there are a few more uncertainties with City than Liverpool. City have got a lot resting on players who haven’t done it for them yet and historically we know it can take a while to fit into their team.”
He certainly makes an interesting point.
The 37-year-old racked up 383 appearances for the Citizens, playing a key role as he helped Manchester City win five Premier League titles.
Fernandinho’s experience will be a huge miss in the dressing room, although he only made ten Premier League starts last season, so he wasn’t actually offering much in terms of being out on the pitch.
While we respect the point Jenas has made, one exit surely won’t affect Manchester City too much.
Guardiola still has the likes of Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan to bring maturity to his midfield, as well as the dressing room, while the Spaniard has a freakish array of attacking talent to help him win games.
As good as Fernandinho was for Manchester City, the ability of Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez will surely see the Citizens cope without him.
Liverpool in a similar boat
Interestingly, Jenas doesn’t mention the departure of Sadio Mane.
The Senegal international made 269 appearances for Liverpool, and he isn’t the only experienced player Jürgen Klopp has lost this summer.
Aside from Mane, Klopp also waved goodbye to Divock Origi, who often stepped up for the Reds, while the reliable Takumi Minamino also left.
Liverpool have lost trusted players of their own, and are also relying on new players such as Darwin Nunez, and to an extent, Luis Diaz.
Therefore, Jenas shouldn’t expect things to be plain sailing for Liverpool, just because Manchester City lost Fernandinho.
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