Gary Neville has changed his title-winners prediction after seeing Liverpool defeat Arsenal on Monday night.
The former Manchester United and England right-back initially earmarked Manchester City as his pick for Premier League champions this season. But after City started off their campaign with a couple of wins, the 4-time Premier League champions were demolished 5-2 by Leicester on Sunday, with the Foxes exposing some major defensive weaknesses in Guardiola’s team.
And after seeing Liverpool overcome Arsenal last night with another impressive performance, Neville believes the gap between the two is as large as ever.
“I picked Manchester City to win the title at the start of the season when we were asked to make our predictions, just on the basis that they’d respond,” Neville said on his podcast. “I thought they would do more in the transfer market, but I’m in the position whereby, and it’s only three games in, I’m going to change my mind.”
Neville was part of the broadcasting team who witnessed City’s capitulation over the weekend, but despite the woeful showing against Leicester, the former England captain says his new prediction is based more on what he’s seen from Liverpool.
“It’s not because of Sunday. I was obviously at the Etihad on Sunday to see Leicester beat City 5-2, but just watching Liverpool, even in that first game against Leeds where some people took out of it that they weren’t at their best, they were sloppy, and you could get at them. That was a mad game, the type of which I have been involved in myself and if you come out of those games on top, when you are not at your best, it demonstrates something.”
“The whole team, from the goalkeeper right the way through to Roberto Firmino at the top of the pitch, is just outstanding. It’s a really top team and we know that from what they’ve achieved over the last couple of years, but it looks like they’ve come back to do it again.”
With only 3 games played this season, there’s a very long way to go until the champions are crowned. But after Liverpool’s dominant start, it’s clear that unless City stop dropping points they’ll find it extremely difficult to bridge the gap with the Merseyside club.