Mahrez warns title challengers Man City ready to go 100% to retain Prem crown

Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has sent title rivals Manchester City a warning ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

The 31-year-old scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 28 appearances as the Citizens retained their top-flight crown.

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City have finished top of the table four times in the last five seasons and enter the 2022/23 season hoping to win three titles in a row.

Liverpool have gone from strength to strength this summer, bringing in Darwin Nunez from Benfica, although they have lost Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich.

Optimism is high at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp looks to guide the Reds to their second Premier League triumph.

While Liverpool are widely seen as City's biggest threat, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United will be aiming to battle it out at the top of the table.

However, the other 'big six' teams have been told that Pep Guardiola's side 'really, really want to win again' and will not be complacent.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mahrez - who recently signed a new contract - said: "We really, really want to win again. When the season starts, you feel like going back. That's the big motivation. We never think, 'Oh, it's going to be easy this year', or we can take it a little slow. No, we've been going 100% from the beginning, because we want to win and we are built with that mentality.

"The last day, against Aston Villa, I was just thinking, what the fuck are we doing here? We play at home and we lose 2-0 against Villa. Sometimes you don't feel like I didn't do well in a game, I didn't that day, and other people came to help us win - that's what our team is about."

City start their season against Liverpool on Saturday when they play in the Community Shield.