Gary Neville has tipped Liverpool to be Manchester City’s closest rivals for the Premier League title next season despite a year to forget for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Manchester United captain made the unlikely prediction that the Anfield giants could take on Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League title race despite Liverpool all-but failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool were the last club to win the Premier League title not named City in the last six years with the Reds also coming close to beating the Etihad Stadium side to top spot in two prior campaigns, and for Neville, the Merseyside club could be in the mix for England’s top price next year.
Neville said: “At this moment in time the one team who have proven it over the last six years is Liverpool. I know Arsenal have run City close this year but the only team that I can say at the moment that have demonstrated that they can go close to Guardiola’s City is Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
“I know they’ve dropped well below their standards this season but you don’t know whether they will get back to those standards next season, because they’ve proven they can do that before.”
Neville’s Liverpool prediction could be way off due to City’s dominace
Arsenal’s form might have handed City the title, but the Manchester side’s sheer dominance in the league and in Europe in 2023 has arguably played an even bigger role in their Premier League triumph, and Liverpool could struggle to match what Guardiola’s side have done next year.
Indeed, Liverpool have come close to beating City to the title twice in recent seasons, and whilst new signings could rejuvenate the Reds, it might not be enough to challenge Guardiola for the Premier League trophy, which already feels like it will remain in Manchester for a fourth year-in-a-row.
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