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David James has predicted Manchester City will miss out on the top four this season after claiming they are the “weakest link” among the title contenders.

Former City keeper James reckons the whole club’s philosophy is wrong and that they got LUCKY by “tripping over the line” to win their two Premier League titles.

James believes Liverpool - another of his old employers - will be the surprise package this season, and claims they will knock City out of the top four despite another summer of big spending at the Etihad.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini did a £49m deal — a record for an Englishman — for Raheem Sterling, also signed Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts and is still in the market for Wolfsburg’s £50m-rated Kevin De Bruyne.

It would seem unthinkable for mega-rich City not to be challenging for the title again in the campaign which starts on Saturday, let alone missing out on the top four entirely — although their collapse at the end of last season did raise some serious doubts about Pellegrini.

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And James believes that while the Mancunian Blues have got big problems ahead, Liverpool have addressed their weaknesses by replacing two members of manager Brendan Rodgers’ backroom team.

“I generally think Man City of the top four are the weak link,” said former England keeper James.

“Man City, again, they have got all this talent, they have won the title twice — or rather tripped over the line twice.

“Look at Chelsea last season. The title was won in November. If Arsenal had started better, I think Chelsea would have carried on longer just to win the league by ten, 15 points, whatever.

“I don’t see the Man City model being right, just spending loads of money and acquiring players. It isn’t necessarily the model of continued success. I have seen changes elsewhere and at the moment I am not seeing that at Man City. It is just spend a bit more and expect success.”

James, talking at the launch of BT Sport’s new Premier League coverage, expects Liverpool to push City out of the top four.

Assistants Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh have gone to make way for Sean O’Driscoll and Gary McAllister in Rodgers’ staff at Anfield.

Flashback — Liverpool beat City 2-1 in March:

James believes this new set-up will be successful, and will also help Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet — who he says is one of the best at the position in the Premier League.

He said of Liverpool: “I am not one of the owners but if you look at the whole business model there is a flaw somewhere and, at the moment, they might think it is at the coaching level.

“I think this is the season of the coach. I think with the new coaches they have a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League at the expense of Man City.

“I am encouraged Liverpool have changed the coaching staff. No disrespect to the other people. The acquisition of so many players to Liverpool and no success, there has to be a reason for that. I think it is environmental, it is not recruitment.

“Now, with the new coaching staff, Liverpool will be winning far more games and the onus on Mignolet won’t be as acute. Statistically, he has been one of the high performers in the Premier League.

“That’s not to say as a Premier League keeper you should expect not to have to do too much work - when I signed for Liverpool, I fell into the trap that I wouldn’t be that busy as Liverpool were one of the best sides in Europe. Then suddenly I am out of the side because I let in too many goals.

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"Liverpool haven’t won the league since 1990 — 25 years. But, using my brief experience as a manager in India, you work out what you do and what you let others do and Brendan has had three years where he’s done what he has wanted to do.

“I would argue now he is probably looking at a different way of doing it, otherwise the coaches wouldn’t have been replaced. You can’t spend £250m on players and have no success.”

* BT Sport 1 has the first game of the new Barclays Premier League season with Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur this Saturday from noon, the first of 38 exclusively live Barclays Premier League games this season on BT Sport.

This season BT Sport Europe is the new home of European football with all UEFA Champions League matches and UEFA Europa League matches exclusively live, visit btsport.com/europe.