Ally McCoist predicts problems for Liverpool and names his Premier League title winner

Ally McCoist has confessed that he sees the uncertainty surrounding the futures of three key Liverpool players becoming a "problem" for the Reds this season - as he predicted that Arsenal will win the Premier league title.

The Merseysiders have made a strong start to the campaign, with new head coach Arne Slot winning eight of his first 10 top flight games. That purple patch means that Jurgen Klopp's successor boasts the best record of any manager in the club's history at this stage in the season.

The early frontrunners sit two points ahead of rivals Manchester City in second, with Arsenal seven points adrift in fifth. However, former Rangers great McCoist has predicted that the Reds could encounter problems later on in the campaign - with off-field contract matters showing no sign of resolve.

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Revealing his fears for Slot's men, the pundit feels that the speculation over Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract situations could derail the club's title bid. The trio have all entered the final year of their respective deals - meaning they will be free to leave for nothing next July as things stand.

Speaking to talkSPORT BET, McCoist warned: "Liverpool have pleasantly surprised me so far this season. I really like Arne Slot; he speaks very well. I still think that they’re going to have problems further down the line, though, with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract situations.

"That will be a problem for them. Nonetheless, they’ve started the campaign really well. They’ve just had one hiccup, which came against Nottingham Forest at home, but that can happen. Other than that, they’ve been excellent!"

Having witnessed Liverpool and Arsenal play out a 2-2 draw at the Emirates last month, McCoist also asserted that the result has not changed his view that the Gunners will win the league this year. Despite the North London side being seven points off the pace already, the Scotsman is convinced that Mikel Arteta's team will rally back into contention.

"The draw between Arsenal and Liverpool didn’t change my opinion on the title race at all. If either team had won, I still certainly wouldn’t have been ruling the other out," he opined. "There’s still a long way to go and there are some very good teams in the Premier League who are capable of taking points off Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

“I actually really enjoyed the Arsenal-Liverpool game! I enjoyed the intensity of it, there were some fantastic bits of skill and some great individual play. Arsenal got off to the perfect start with a beautiful goal from Bukayo Saka, but I thought a draw was probably a fair result.

McCoist added: "It was a good game and it was a great advert for the league. It hasn’t altered my opinion that Arsenal and Liverpool will be right up there come the end of the season. I went with Arsenal at the start of the season and I’m sticking with that prediction."