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WE ARE witnessing one of the great Premier League rivalries between Liverpool and Manchester City and I can’t wait for the next instalment once the new season begins next weekend.

I think either Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola will be champions again in May but the latest twist in Lionel Messi’s on-off move to Manchester City swings the advantage back to Anfield.

Everything about Liverpool works, everyone understands their jobs from full-backs to forwards.

The durability of front three Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino is phenomenal. Not enough cover? Well, they do have Divock

Origi, Takumi Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rhian Brewster.

The one big change mooted is Thiago Alcantara coming in from Bayern Munich if Gini Wijnaldum leaves for Barcelona. But that wouldn’t weaken Liverpool.

You have to go back to 1984 for the last time Liverpool retained the league title. For City to stop them, they need to sign Messi, but that looks unlikely after the Argentine’s statement on Friday, unless Barca let him go for a reduced price.

City lost nine games last season but dominated in most. That wouldn’t have happened in a Messi team — he would have found a way.

City will be closer next season and have brought in Ferran Torres, who looks a great prospect, and Nathan Ake, whose presence may allow Fernandinho to return to midfield. But 18 points is a big margin to make up against Liverpool.

Chelsea’s recruitment of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva is a real statement of intent even before Friday’s confirmation of £75million Germany midfielder Kai Havertz.

Thiago showed at PSG he is a leader, a winner, exactly what Chelsea were missing. FA Cup winners Arsenal have been transformed under Mikel Arteta and have added Willian and centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, while PierreEmerick Aubameyang now looks likely to stay.

They could challenge Manchester United for a top-four place, though United still have a slight edge.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has signed a very good player in Donny van de Beek from Ajax, though he’s not the holding midfielder they need.

If he sent out a midfield of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Van de Beek against Manchester City, United would lose. So Van de Beek may be seen as a longer-term replacement for Pogba.