As Manchester City gear up for a crucial Premier League showdown against Arsenal, club captain Bernardo Silva has stirred the pot with a bold declaration—dismissing the Gunners as City’s primary rivals. Instead, Silva insists that Liverpool remain the reigning challengers to City’s dominance, setting the stage for a fiery encounter this weekend at the Emirates.
Silva Names Liverpool as City’s ‘True Rival’
Speaking in the build-up to Sunday’s high-stakes fixture, Silva made it clear that despite Arsenal’s recent resurgence, they’ve yet to match the intensity and success of Liverpool. “Our biggest rival by far is Liverpool,” he told Sky Sports. “They’ve always pushed us, they’ve taken titles from us, and they know how to win.”
Silva highlighted the Reds’ consistent title-contending form under former boss Jürgen Klopp. Between 2018 and 2022, Liverpool collected 357 Premier League points, narrowly trailing City’s 358 during the same stretch. The two clubs shared four league titles in that period—City winning three and Liverpool one, in 2020. For Silva, that record speaks volumes about who truly challenges City at the summit.
Arsenal’s Rise Still Not Enough for Silva
Though Arsenal finished second to City in back-to-back seasons (2023 and 2024) before finally leapfrogging Guardiola’s men last term, Silva remains unconvinced. He acknowledged the Gunners’ progress but questioned their ability to sustain it. “You see Arsenal improving every year, and they’ve started to fight for titles,” he said. “But they haven’t reached the point of actually winning them.”
The City captain’s comments underscore a sense of unfinished business between the two clubs. Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta—a former Guardiola assistant—have built a formidable squad but are still waiting to lift the Premier League trophy under his leadership.
City Still Haunted by Emirates Demolition
The last time these two sides met, Arsenal dismantled City with a stunning 5–1 victory at the Emirates, a defeat Silva didn’t shy away from addressing. “It was a really bad time for us,” he admitted. That result remains fresh in the minds of City players, particularly midfield enforcer Rodri, who sees Sunday’s game as a chance for redemption.
Rodri Eyes Payback at the Emirates
Rodri, one of City’s most influential figures, echoed Silva’s sentiments while adding a personal edge to the buildup. “We have a bit of revenge for Arsenal,” he said. “They caught us at a bad moment last time, and they made us pay. Now we want to show we’re not that team anymore.”
With both squads gunning for early-season supremacy, Sunday’s clash promises to be more than just a battle for three points—it’s a litmus test of who’s ready to lead the Premier League title race this season.
