Liverpool legend John Barnes believes the Reds will maintain their position at the top of the table next season if Manchester City and Manchester United don’t spend big money in the transfer market.

The Merseyside club are currently 11 points ahead of the Citizens with a game in hand, while they are a massive 24 points above United. Barnes thinks signings are the only way for the Manchester teams to redress the balance:

“In terms of what [Liverpool] have done so far, I can see them doing it again next year. But if Man City or Man United spend lots of money to improve, can we say that Liverpool are definitely going to win the league? No.”

“Now a team can spend hundreds of millions, whereas in the past that didn’t happen – it took time. Now a team can rapidly improve because of the spending power.”

“I think it’s much harder to dominate, win the league and maintain your position at the very top than it was in my day.”

Whether that is indeed true, we shall have to wait and see. City beat Liverpool to the title last campaign with pretty much the same squad, but there are certainly areas of weakness that need to be addressed.

A replacement for Vincent Kompany does need to be found at some point, and the departure of David Silva next summer should necessitate a move for a midfield playmaker.

With Fernandinho’s contract also up next June, there could well be some big changes in City’s first-team squad by the start of next season.