Graeme Souness says Manchester City's shock 5-2 defeat to Leicester City suggests Liverpool will walk to the title again.
The Reds stormed to their first Premier League title last season, taking advantage of a gulf in class between them and City.
Pundits predicted it would be a closer title race this season but City went down to a 5-2 defeat in just their second Premier League this season, with their defensive frailties once again being exposed.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Souness argued that this demonstrated City will once again be off the pace this season - even with new defender Ruben Dias on the way from Benfica.
He said: "I fancy Liverpool to retain it. When you try and apply logic to football, it can come back to bite you and embarrass you, but I’ll try to introduce some logic to the argument.
"Liverpool won it by 18 points last year, Liverpool, in my opinion, have strengthened big time, so that makes them even stronger.
"I look at City right now, whether Dias comes or anyone else comes, they’re gonna have to be more than Dias to take City from 18 points behind Liverpool to getting in front of them.
"Liverpool are stronger today than they were 12 months ago, and that’s music to my ears, obviously.
"I think that’s a marker when you look at what City have shown already and the other possible challengers.
"The team that might challenge them is Leicester after today. Right now, I think Liverpool could run away with it again."
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