Gary Neville has made it clear that ‘we do have a title race on’ between Liverpool and Manchester City, as he told Sky Sports.
The former defender admitted that a number of weeks ago, when Mo Salah and Sadio Mane departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, he thought it was ‘not going to happen’.
But fast forward to today and the Reds are six points behind Pep Guardiola’s men in the Premier League table.
Added with that, Jurgen Klopp and his players have a game in hand – against Leeds United on Wednesday – and they are still yet to travel to the Etihad.
Given how things were panning out a number of weeks ago and what Neville was thinking, especially with the AFCON’s, he has now changed his mind.
“Liverpool are a great side,” said Neville. “Without Mane and Sale, for the last month, which makes it incredibly difficult for them to chase down Manchester City.
“But if you said to me two or three weeks ago, ‘Mane and Salah go to the Africa Cup of Nations, get to the final and Liverpool end up closing the gap on Man City’.
“Then, I would have said ‘no that’s not going to happen’ because Manchester City have looked absolutely incredible’. But we do have a title race.”
Liverpool deserve huge credit for continuing the push this all-expensive Manchester City side.
What makes matters worse for someone like Pep Guardiola is that the Merseyside club seem to be getting better each week.
Their attack is looking stronger and players like Virgil van Dijk are now starting to hit the strongest form of their campaign.
All in all, what looked like another title for Manchester City, a few twists and turns are about to be added.
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