Neville’s comments came after Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Wolves, which allowed them to leapfrog both Manchester City and Arsenal following City’s draw against Newcastle.
Yet, Neville remains unconvinced about Liverpool’s ability to maintain their form over the long haul.
According to Neville, Liverpool may be enjoying a strong start under new manager Arne Slot, but they still appear “well below” the level of City and Arsenal, who he believes are the true heavyweights in this season’s title race.
Liverpool’s promising start
Slot, in his first season in charge at Anfield, has certainly made an impression. With five wins from their opening six matches, Liverpool’s form has been impressive. Their only loss came at the hands of Nottingham Forest, but they bounced back quickly and now lead the league by a narrow margin.
Luis Diaz. Credit: Imago Images
Yet, for Neville, the current standings are not enough to convince him that Liverpool are capable of mounting a sustained challenge against Manchester City and Arsenal, last season’s top two teams. While Liverpool’s consistency has helped them rise above their rivals after six games, Neville pointed out that their performances haven’t always exuded the confidence of a title-winning side.
“I didn’t feel like I was watching title winners against Wolves,” Neville said, reflecting on the game. “They’re going to have a good season, it looks like, and maybe get Champions League football, but they’re well below Arsenal and City in terms of quality.”
Neville’s Skepticism and the Arsenal-City Rivalry
Neville’s primary argument seems to rest on the strength and depth of both Manchester City and Arsenal, teams he expects to dominate the season once again.
He views the current rivalry between the two as the driving force behind the title race and doesn’t believe Liverpool are yet ready to crash that party.
“Arsenal and Man City are the teams to beat, and their rivalry is already heating up,” he added, noting how both sides have built on their successes from last season.
Though Neville praised Liverpool’s potential to secure a Champions League spot, he drew a clear line between competing for top four and competing for the title. For him, City and Arsenal’s squad depth, tactical discipline, and ability to dominate games put them far ahead of Liverpool.
Will Liverpool be in the title race for the wh0le season?
While Neville’s words might disappoint some Liverpool fans, it is still early in the season.
Slot’s side have shown flashes of brilliance, and the unpredictability of the Premier League means anything can happen.
However, the pressure will now be on Liverpool to prove that they can not only hang with Arsenal and City but surpass them.
Whether they can sustain their form, especially as injuries and squad rotation come into play, remains to be seen.
Neville’s assessment reflects the general skepticism about Liverpool’s ability to compete with the established dominance of Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, and the fast-improving Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.
Only time will tell if Liverpool can prove Neville wrong and truly challenge for the Premier League title.
For now, despite their early position at the summit of the league, Gary Neville is sticking to his guns: Liverpool are not in this season’s title race.
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