Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has predicted an open Premier League title race this season and believes that both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool can become the English champions.

Despite winning 18 First Division titles before the inception of the Premier League, the Merseyside club are yet to win the league since the new format was introduced in 1992, while Tottenham's last league success came more than 50 years ago in 1961.

"I think to start there will be six teams. In these six teams a lot can happen," the 50-year-old told The Independent. "Probably many people think Liverpool. Why not? They have a great coach and he is there for the second year.

"Tottenham - why not? Because they don't have that winning culture of the last years? That's not the point. The point is the squad they have, which is fantastic, and again it's the second season for Andre [Villas-Boas].

"Arsenal is Arsenal and probably they will be a better team. Chelsea is Chelsea. Manchester City and Manchester United, the champions of the last two years. Probably by December it will be five or four but to start I would say all six."

Mourinho won two Premier League titles during his first spell in charge of Chelsea between 2004 and 2007.