Gary Neville forced into early title prediction amid Liverpool & Man City rivalry

Liverpool are operating on a level obove the previous Premier League champions, Manchester City, according to Gary Neville. The Reds have won their first league title in 30 years last term, while they have started the new campaign with three impressive wins over the rivals. Meanwhile, Citiziens, that have shown excellent results over the previous campaigns, have already suffered a 5 - 2 loss to Leicester. And Neville has shared his thoughts on City's title chances for current season. He told Sky Sports’ Gary Neville podcast : “We know Pep Guardiola doesn't have the team he wants on the pitch at the moment, he's signing another centre-back. “But when I watch the application of Liverpool in the game against Arsenal, and the application of Manchester City, it's a different level. And that's the one thing that Pep Guardiola will really need to affect. “For two seasons, their transition from losing the ball to winning the ball back was off the scale, like we've never seen. He was bringing Barcelona to the Premier League. “They've stepped off it. They stepped off it last season and I think at that point I felt with the levels they'd reached they were always going to go over the edge a little bit. I expected them to start this season really, really at it.” Former Manchester United captain admits that the contrasting form shown so far by the two Premier League sides forced him to re-evaluate his prediction from the start of the season. He said: “I picked Manchester City before the start of the season, when we were asked to make our predictions, just on the basis that they would respond. “I thought they would do more in the transfer market, but I'm in the position whereby, and it's only three games in, I'm going to change my mind. “It's not because of Sunday. I was obviously at the Etihad on Sunday to see Leicester beat City 5-2, but just watching Liverpool, even in that first game against Leeds where some people took out of it that they weren't at their best, they were sloppy, and you could get at them. “That was a mad game, the type of which I have been involved in myself and if you come out of those games on top, when you are not at your best, it demonstrates something. “They also signed two players after that game and then they went to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea and they did the business. “They then have Arsenal at home, another team near the top of the league, and they've done the business again.” On Liverpool new signings, he added: “The signings of Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota were big moves because it signalled intent. “They needed to strengthen in midfield with somebody who can play, control the game and do something a little bit different to the rest of them, and then Jota up front, who provides a real quality back up to the front three, but doesn't unnerve them to the point where they want to leave. It was a clever signing. “It's a really top team and we know that from what they've achieved over the last couple of years, but it looks like they've come back to do it again.”

Source: Liverpool Echo

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