Gary Neville believes Liverpool fans have realised their 'underdog status' against Manchester City.
The Reds welcomed Pep Guardiola's side to Anfield with nine places and 13 points between them, some change from the deathly close title races of the last five seasons. While Jurgen Klopp's side falter, hindered by a litany of injuries and a drop in form from key players, City remain unbeaten and have been near-unstoppable.
The gap in form between the two upon meeting hasn't been this wide for some time, with Liverpool fans adopting 'underdog status' by trying to make a raucous Anfield the 12th-man, according to former Manchester United defender Neville.
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"It tells you the atmosphere in here, Liverpool and City have been neck-and-neck for years," Neville told Sky Sports during live commentary. "It does feel like an atmosphere whereby Liverpool are recognising the underdog status and that’s strange, you wouldn’t have said that at the start of the season because they’ve been so close. The crowd are clapping every single throw, tackle, pass."
Klopp alluded to Liverpool's supposed underdog status during the week, admitting that his side cannot compete with the endless wealth that City - along with Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United - now possess. And while Neville agreed with the premise of the Reds boss' comments, he made the point that there are plenty below who have even less financial might than Liverpool.
He added: "It’s a genuine point but there are clubs below Liverpool who can’t compete as well. Distribution could be more fair and they do have a wealthy backer."
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