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  "path": "/2026/06/04/emile-heskey-predicts-arsenal-man-utd-liverpool-will-finish-next-season-28641732/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-04T07:12:02.000Z",
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  "tags": [
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    "Manchester City",
    "left Man City after ten years in charge",
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    "first league title in 22 years last season",
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  "textContent": "Ex-England striker Emile Heskey (Picture: YouTube)\n\nEmile Heskey has backed Manchester City to win the Premier League next season despite Pep Guardiola’s departure and revealed his top-four prediction.\n\nEx-Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to replace Guardiola, who has left Man City after ten years in charge.\n\nGuardiola won 20 trophies during his time at the Etihad Stadium, including six Premier League titles, eight domestic cups and the Champions League in 2023.\n\nIt has been suggested by some pundits that Man City could be set for a period of transition like Manchester United and Arsenal experienced following the exits of club legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.\n\n##  Last chance to sign up\n\nThis week is your last chance to get our seven-day guide to the World Cup sent directly to your inbox. 48 teams, 104 games, 1,248 players – we've got everything you need to know. Sign up now.\n\nBut Heskey expects Manchester City to reclaim the Premier League trophy next season and has predicted defending champions Arsenal will finish just fourth.\n\nFollowing three successive second-place finishes, Mikel Arteta guided Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years last season.\n\nThe Gunners appear to have the foundations for more success but Heskey believes they will drop out of title contention, finishing below Manchester United and Liverpool as well as Man City.\n\nMikel Arteta holding Arsenal’s Premier League trophy (Picture: Getty)\n\nUnited were one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League during the second-half of the season and are expected to keep on improving under new permanent head coach Michael Carrick.\n\nLiverpool, meanwhile, are set to hire Andoni Iraola as their new manager after sacking title-winning boss Arne Slot following a difficult season.\n\n‘Manchester City will be champions with or without Pep Guardiola,’ the ex-England striker told Hajper.\n\n##  Heskey's predicted top-four for next season\n\n  1. Manchester City\n  2. Manchester United\n  3. Liverpool\n  4. Arsenal\n  5. Aston Villa\n  6. Newcastle United\n\n\n\n‘They look good now but they’re really going to come together as a team next season.\n\n‘Pep Guardiola is gone next season. I think he’s had more than enough and he’s happy with everything he’s done.\n\n‘He probably wants a little bit more family time now and will take another break from football like he did after leaving Barcelona.\n\nEx-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is set to join Man City (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘Football is difficult, especially when you’re coaching. There’s no set plan. You can have a set plan but then it can be thrown out the window.\n\n‘But even without Guardiola in charge, Manchester City will win the league next season.\n\n‘Top four I’ll say Man City, Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Then Aston Villa fifth and Newcastle United in sixth.’\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nIf Heskey is right, Chelsea will endure another underwhelming season under new manager Xabi Alonso, having finished just 10th last term.\n\nOn Manchester City’s imminent appointment of Maresca, who left Chelsea in January just six months after winning the Club World Cup, Heskey added: ‘I think he will come in and City will be more or less the same team.\n\n‘I don’t think he will change much or do anything differently. Guardiola has been there for 10 years and then other managers only last four games. It’s mad, really.\n\n‘Football is football and we all love it and Guardiola has brought something different to the game with his tactics and structures. Everyone wants to be Pep manager but no one else has Pep’s players.\n\n‘I like to see other managers getting good results playing in totally different ways, so the challenges of having total football take on counter-attacking teams who sit back, or a side that will hurt you from corners and free kicks.’\n\nBefore the 2026-27 Premier League campaign begins there is the small matter of a summer World Cup hosted by America, Mexico and Canada.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Emile Heskey predicts where Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool will finish next season"
}