Frank Lampard delivers Man Utd and Liverpool verdicts for Premier League title
Frank Lampard is a man who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win the Premier League – and Chelsea's record goalscorer believes Liverpool and Manchester United will go close this season.
The 43-year-old won three top-flight titles during his playing career at Stamford Bridge but was unable to lead his former club to glory as a manager, finishing fourth in his only full season in charge.
Lampard was sacked midway through the last campaign with the Blues ninth in the table as Roman Abramovich opted to twist rather than stick and appoint Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel guided Chelsea to a second successive fourth-place finish but neither they nor Manchester United or Liverpool could mount a challenge against eventual winners Manchester City.
Lampard, still without a club after his Stamford Bridge exit, expects that to change this season following a summer of recruitment at Old Trafford and the return of injured players at Anfield.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "I think you can't discount Manchester United. They were not far off last year and they've gone again and I think brought in really impressive signings.
"Liverpool will be the same. They missed huge players through injury for big parts of last season. The year before they were one of the best teams we've seen in the Premier League."
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Liverpool, City and United are familiar faces at the top of the Premier League, but Lampard believes it would be foolish to completely write-off some of the division's so-called lesser lights.
"You can't discount those as much as you can't discount the teams pushing those from beneath or just behind," Lampard continued.
"Leicester, we saw them win at the weekend, West Ham have improved greatly.
"Other teams like Aston Villa, you know, they've lost Jack Grealish but they're bringing in really strong players and have a stronger squad so it makes for an exciting season and we'll see."
The new Premier League season begins on Friday as newly-promoted Brentford take on Arsenal at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Get your hands on your club's special edition 2021/22 annual. Find out more here.
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