Joleon Lescott explains why Liverpool won’t win title and makes bold prediction

Joleon Lescott has backed his former club Manchester City to bounce back from a disappointing Premier League and Champions League campaign under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola

Former England defender Joleon Lescott has written off Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League this season and believes Manchester City will pip them to the title.

The 42-year-old backed his former club to bounce back from a disappointing Premier League and Champions League campaign under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola, suggesting they have benefitted from the mental break last season provided.

Guardiola has been active in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of James Trafford, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, and Sverre Nypan

Manchester City won an unprecedented four Premier League titles in a row between 2021 and 2024 but were unable to sustain that charge as they finished trophyless in 2025.

Lescott, however, places them as the team to beat this season despite Liverpool ’s sensational transfer business. The former defender – speaking at the launch the new Topps Premier League 2025-26 trading card collection – said: “Regardless of how last season panned out, they are definitely going to be one of the favourites. It’s Pep Guardiola, it’s Man City with some of the world’s best players.

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“It would be foolish to not see them as favourites in every competition they enter. That doesn’t mean they’re going to win everything, but they’re definitely one of the favourites.”

City finished 13 points behind champions Liverpool in third place last season but Lescott put their drop off down to a fatigue from winning. “It was obviously an unprecedented season for them last year, but they’ve achieved something no one in the history of English football has achieved so it’s always going to take its toll,” he explained.

“It did that last year. Not only a physical toll, but a mental toll to stay focussed for that long and to have to win games for that period of time. When they recognised that they weren’t going to win the title, whether it was subconsciously or not, they were able to switch off a little bit.

“Physically the demand was still there but hopefully they’ve had a break mentally, not to have to go out there and concentrate points wise, hopefully that now means they’ll come back ready to go.”

Lescott was speaking at the new Topps Premier League 2026 trading card launch in London, which features players from all 20 clubs in the league in their 2025/26 kits at the Fanatics flagship store on Thursday.

He was joined by other legends such as Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand to celebrate the new stand-alone range that features legends and current stars, with an extensive parallel programme and more autographs than ever before.

The showcase of Premier League talent among the collectibles also gave Lescott reason to be excited about his former club as he enthused over City’s signing of 21-year-old Cherki.

“He’s very exciting, for the Premier League as well. He plays with a lot of flair, a lot of quality. I’m anticipating a good start for him and a good season,” he said.

“But again, we can’t get carried away and make judgements too soon, whether it’s good or bad, there needs to be a bedding-in period.” And despite the excitement, Lescott also issued caution about expectations on the youngster who joined from Lyon this summer.

“It’s a big change for him, coming from the French league, it’s going to be a different demand, physically, mentally, and also a tension. I think we only see foreign players in different leagues when they do well.

“Now we see him in the tough times and the scrutiny comes when you’re not doing so well. So it’s how they manage those periods and understand that people are going to be watching every game, every moment.”

Marking the launch of the Topps Premier League 2025-26 collection were football icons Alan Shearer, Steven Gerrard, and Rio Ferdinand, joined by Jermaine Defoe, Joleon Lescott, Theo Walcott and Tosin Adarabioyo, alongside Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin in a star-studded celebration.

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