Gary Neville believes that Liverpool can still catch Manchester City in the title race. But the Sky Sports pundit thinks that Jurgen Klopp’s team will have to go “full-pelt” to do so.
“Liverpool are doing, I think, really well without obviously two of their main players,” Neville said while in conversation with Martin Tyler for The Gary Neville Podcast.
“Little things like that last night give a little encouragement, with Southampton getting a point against City. City, they’re a machine, you don’t expect them to make a lot of mistakes. But they could, they could, and Liverpool and Chelsea have got to believe that.”
The former United man thinks that Liverpool are doing all they can. Given Klopp’s comparative lack of squad depth, Neville says he isn’t “disappointed” in The Red’s efforts to catch City.
“I’m not that disappointed in Liverpool to be honest with you, because I think they have to be at full-pelt all the time to get with City. Just because of the fact that they haven’t got the squad, Liverpool, that City have got. But I do think that Chelsea have,” Neville continued.
He drew on his own experience of being caught in a title race to illustrate the point. Tyler questioned him about Arsenal coming from behind to pip United to a crown that everyone thought they had sewn up during his playing days.
“It can happen, it can happen. Liverpool have got it in them. If they can keep that 11 together, that strongest 11 and get Mane and Salah back flying,” said Neville.
Title race back on
Sunday’s game was definitely a must-win for The Reds. After City’s dropped points the day before, it was crucial that they made up some ground.
Pep Guardiola’s team don’t drop many points. Liverpool have to make sure that they punish them whenever they do. That’s what they did by beating Crystal Palace.
But the fact remains that the gap is a big one. Neville is right about Liverpool’s squad depth and Klopp’s team will have to be near-perfect for the rest of the season. But as the pundit says, this squad are capable of that if they can get their best players on the pitch more often than not.
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