Gary Neville sends PL title message to Arsenal and Liverpool after Manchester City's loss to Tottenham
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes Arsenal and Liverpool have a good chance to beat Manchester City in the Premier League title race. He opined that the two sides will have no 'excuses' for missing out on the title following City’s poor run of form.
Manchester City failed to reduce the daylight between them and league leaders Liverpool. They were whitewashed 0-4 at the Etihad by Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday, November 23. It extended their losing streak to five losses across competitions.
Pep Guardiola’s men are adrift of Arne Slot’s men by eight points atop the table after the latter beat Southampton on Sunday. Chelsea and Arsenal are one point behind City in the third and fourth positions, respectively.
Manchester City set an incredible record last season as they became the first team to win four consecutive Premier League titles. In each of their last four league triumphs, Arsenal ended as runner-up twice, whilst Liverpool ended in the second position once.
After City’s match against Spurs, Gary Neville claimed that Arsenal and Liverpool have no excuse not to win the Premier League title this season. He told Sky Sports:
"If you're Arsenal, if you're Liverpool – I'm thinking the two genuine teams that can win the title other than City – you must not get carried away but feel there are no excuses here now.
"I'm looking more at Arsenal with that statement than Liverpool. At the start of the season, anyone looking at Arne Slot coming in and has done what he's done would say: 'I'm not quite sure that will happen'. This was Arsenal's season if it wasn't going to be City's."
"The pressure is really on Arsenal to step up and go for it, they had a good win today. But for Liverpool to be sat at the top of the league, with that back five they have got and front players and options they have, they must be really fancying it.
He added:
"Big game next week (Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield) and I know there is a long way to go but it feels like if City were to win the title, it would be Pep Guardiola's greatest Premier League."
In their next Premier League clash, Liverpool will host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, December 1.
Micah Richards explains why Liverpool and Arsenal have the edge over Manchester City in Premier League title race
Former Manchester defender Micah Richards has explained why Arsenal and Liverpool have an advantage over his former side in the title race. He said City's chances of retaining the league this season are slim. This is because teams are now taking more risks against them and their defensive midfielder Rodri is injured.
Richards told Sky Sports (via Liverpool.com)
"I think teams are starting to work them out a little bit. The teams who have done well against Man City are now pressing a bit higher and taking more risks.
"If you look at the last game — against Brighton — they took chances. And when [the opposition] get in there, they are taking the chances. Injuries... and Rodri as well — we're talking about the best defensive midfielder in the world. It's always going to be difficult."
Manchester City will be keen to turn a bad spell around when they face Dutch side Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, November 26.
