Gary Neville has predicted that Liverpool will lose out to Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
The Reds are gearing up for the start of the campaign, which begins this weekend against Fulham. Liverpool travel to Craven Cottage for their league opener on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 12.30pm.
Jurgen Klopp’s side finished one point behind Man City in last season’s title race. However, Liverpool have already got the better of Pep Guardiola’s side with the 3-1 win in the Community Shield last weekend.
Reflecting on Liverpool’s win, Neville has pointed out a moment from Man City striker Erling Haaland that gives cause for concern for the Reds. The former Manchester United captain went on to predict a comfortable win in the title race for City.
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“There was that one in the first half where he got the shot away where he leant on Robertson, and I thought ‘Ooohhhh’ when you’re playing against a brilliant defender like Robertson in that channel with Van Dijk,” said Neville, speaking on the Overlap, in partnership with Sky Bet.
“I don’t see many people going in that channel and getting joy. He’s leant on him and got his shot away and I thought that’ll go in at Anfield, that’ll go in at a game.
“I was a little bit like you [Carragher] I thought that game could easily have been 3-1 or 4-1 the other way on a different day.
“Last season we had a title race and I think Liverpool were at absolute breakneck, giving everything to hang in there until the end.
“Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if this season, if they [City] do win it by a big amount of points.”
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was alongside Neville and offered his prediction for the upcoming season. While agreeing that Man City are favourites for the league title, the ex-Reds defender went on to explain why his old club have an advantage over City.
“Two things, look Man City are favourites, I think most people in the room would think City would win the league, “ said Carragher, speaking on the Overlap, in partnership with Sky Bet.
“I think, there's a couple of things that I’m maybe hanging on to with Liverpool is the fact that, I think once Virgil van Dijk was up to speed last season – you got the first three or four months out of the season – in the second half of the season, him and the goalkeeper [Alisson Becker] were absolutely what you would expect them to be and what they've been for the last three or four years.
“If you get them [Liverpool] at their best, at the very sort of start at the season, and don't forget, every season van Dijk has been at Liverpool a full season, Liverpool have got over 90 points and the other thing is that Liverpool have got sort of three or four top players.
“I don’t know about City to be honest; it might be the same, not going to the World Cup. So, Luis Díaz is not going, [Mohamed] Salah’s not going.
“I don't really know City, but there's a few decent players sort of from Liverpool I think, you know, could that make a difference in the second half of the season.”
“I mean, he’s [Jürgen Klopp] brought younger players in now, so you know players had to move on at a certain stage. I mean, I actually think Liverpool have got more depth than City.”
To access exclusive, unseen content from the Overlap Fan Debate, please visit Sky Bet’s Start of Season Hub .
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