Pep Guardiola reacts to Liverpool ending Man City’s Premier League title run

Pep Guardiola has expressed hope his own team will challenge for the title next season (Picture: Getty)

Pep Guardiola has congratulated ‘fantastic’ Liverpool after they ended Manchester City’s run of four straight Premier League titles on Sunday.

Guardiola’s team have dominated the English top-flight in recent years – winning the league in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 – clinching last season’s trophy after a close-fought title fight with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

City have suffered somewhat of a drop-off this term, though, currently sitting fourth in the table and failing to challenge for the title in 2025.

Despite never looking like they’d defend their crown, City have enjoyed better form in the FA Cup, booking their spot in the final this weekend.

Speaking after City’s 2-0 semi-final victory over Nottingham Forest, Guardiola sent a classy message to Arne Slot’s side and expressed hope that his own team will challenge for the Premier League title next season.

‘Before we start, on behalf of myself and the club we want to congratulate Liverpool for their Premier League victory,’ the Spaniard said.

‘Well deserved, no doubt about that, a fantastic team. Give me one year, like it happened the last four years and hopefully next season we can do better and compete until the end of the season. Liverpool, congratulations.’

Liverpool are favourites to win the Premier League again next term (Picture: Reuters)

Liverpool’s 2025 Premier League title was confirmed on Sunday with a 5-1 comeback victory over Tottenham at Anfield.

It marked an incredible debut season for Liverpool head coach Slot, who became the fifth manager to win the Premier League title in his first campaign in charge and the third-youngest manager to land the trophy.

Speaking after the match, Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah suggested that the 46-year-old Dutchman had transformed him into a better player.

Liverpool’s 2025 Premier League title was confirmed on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

‘You see the numbers, it seems so!’ Salah told Sky Sports. ‘Now I don’t have to defend much.

‘The tactics are quite different [to former manager Jurgen Klopp]. But I told him, ‘As long as you rest me defensively, I will provide offensively’ – so I’m glad I did. It was the manager’s idea of course, but he listens a lot.’

Who are the favourites to win the Premier League title next season?

According to Bet365, Liverpool are 15-8 favourites to win the Premier League title again in the 2025-26 campaign.

Should they land back-to-back top-flight trophies, they would make it 21 overall and move clear of Manchester United’s record haul, having tied them with 20 on Sunday.

City are the current second favourites, priced at 9-4, while Arsenal are third favourites at 5-2.

Arsenal finished as Premier League runners-up in 2023 and 2024 respectively and haven’t been champions of England in over 20 years.

Newcastle United are priced at 12-1, Chelsea are 20-1 while Aston Villa and Manchester United are both 33-1 and Tottenham are currently 66-1.