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Rio Ferdinand has changed his Premier League title race prediction following the first three games of the season.
Defending champions Liverpool are the only team to boast a perfect record after three matches, but have not fully convinced in any game so far.
However, a 1-0 win over Arsenal before the international break, followed by the £125million signing of Alexander Isak, has tightened their grip on the trophy won in May.
Before the season started, Ferdinand tipped Manchester City to be Liverpool's main rivals this season, but the former defender says it is the Gunners who are their only serious challengers.
"I think you always have to have respect for the champions, no matter who it is,’ Ferdinand told MailSport. "Champions normally go into the following season as the team to beat, that’s inevitable.
"If you look at the way Liverpool have recruited in the summer, they’ve had the best window by far. Their intentions were pure and clean and transparent from the get-go, and they managed to execute everything apart from Marc Guehi.
"If they had got Marc Guehi, I think they would have cleaned up everything, to be honest.
"I think the only team who will be anywhere near Liverpool this season is Arsenal. They’ve got a great squad, real good depth with who they’ve bought.
"I think they’ve had a good window and if [Viktor] Gyokeres comes good, it puts them in a better position.
"I don’t think we’ll see anyone else. Anyone you think might be a surprise, a Newcastle or a Chelsea, I think European football hinders them a little bit in that respect. Just the demands it puts on the squad."
