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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Darren Wells

Gary Neville backs Sir Alex Ferguson theory on title race after Arsenal prediction

Gary Neville believes Arsenal will be crowned Premier League champions - IF they beat Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday.

The Gunners are still eight points clear at the top of the table after a weekend which saw Manchester City come from a goal behind to put four past Liverpool and keep the pressure on.

Arsenal duly responded by beating relegation battlers Leeds by the same 4-1 scoreline, though City still have a game in hand to close the gap ahead of the showdown between the sides on April 26.

However, Neville - who has been adamant all season that City will still lift the title come May - feels the race could be done and dusted by the time of the clash at the Etihad Stadium.

"It’s 50-50," Neville told Sky Sports. "My mind was certain that Manchester City were going to win the league about six to eight weeks ago.

"I absolutely thought that by now Arsenal would have dropped lots of points and they would not be where they are. But now I think it’s 50-50.

"I’m not going to put everything on the Liverpool game (on April 9), but our manager [Sir Alex Ferguson] used to say if you won at Anfield at this time of year you would win the league.

"Quite often that proved to be the case. If Arsenal go to Anfield and win, I would say definitely it would be their title.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Who will win the title this season? Let us know your prediction in the comments below.

Arsenal beat Leeds on Saturday to maintain their title charge (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"The confidence from that would be unbelievable. Anfield is a terror of a place to go."

One of United's more memorable victories at Anfield was the 1-0 win in March of the 2006/07 season, courtesy of a last-minute John O'Shea goal, which helped Ferguson's side go on to claim the title, six points ahead of Chelsea while Liverpool came third.

Arsenal have answered all the challenges put to them so far this season, even beating Liverpool in the home fixture with a 3-2 win back in October. Mikel Arteta has not had the best of fortunes at Anfield, however, losing there last season 4-0.

Man City are hot on Arsenal's heels in the title race (Getty Images)

That game will be remembered for Arteta playing the 'You'll Never Walk Alone' anthem to his players in training in the lead-up to the fixture - as seen on the Amazon documentary 'All or Nothing' - in a bid to motivate his squad and reduce the impact of the hostile atmosphere on Merseyside.

Arsenal have not won in the Premier League at Anfield since 2012, either, with their only victory on away soil in that time coming via a League Cup fourth round penalty shootout in 2020.

After the Liverpool match, Arsenal then face West Ham (A), Southampton (H), Man City (A), Chelsea (H), Newcastle (A), Brighton (H), Nottingham Forest (A) and Wolves (H) to finish off their season.

Meanwhile, City face Southampton (A), Leicester (H), Arsenal (H), Fulham (A), West Ham (H), Leeds (H), Everton (A), Chelsea (H), Brentford (A), plus a rearranged fixture away to Brighton, all whilst battling in the FA Cup semi-finals and Champions League quarter-finals.

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