Neville expects Prem title race ‘to get close’ as Man City ‘will not run away’
Gary Neville expects the Premier League title race “to get close” as he cannot see Manchester City “running away” with it.
Over the past couple of weeks, Man City were able to build a sizable lead at the top of the Premier League. This was helped earlier this month when they beat Chelsea 1-0.
Pep Guardiola’s men were on a run of 12 straight wins in the league but they dropped points on Saturday.
Premier League winners and losers as Man Utd go fourth
They drew 1-1 against Southampton at St Mary’s. Chelsea and Liverpool capitalised on this on Sunday.
Chelsea beat Antonio Conte’s Tottenham 2-0, while Liverpool got the better of Crystal Palace.
Liverpool are now nine points adrift of Man City but Jurgen Klopp’s side have a game in hand.
Chelsea are a point behind Liverpool but the Londoners have played more than their rivals. Neville does not think that City will end up winning the title at a canter:
“It can happen. Liverpool have got it in them if they can keep that strongest XI together. Get Mane and Salah back flying,” he stated on the Gary Neville Podcast.
“Liverpool are doing really well without two of their main players. They are [in the title race]. Little things like that give a bit of 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 and Liverpool and Chelsea have got to believe that.
“I’m not that disappointed with Liverpool, to be honest, because I think they have to be at full-pelt all the time to get [alongside] City, just for the fact they haven’t got the squad that City have got.
“But I do think Chelsea have and I expect it to get close. I don’t expect this runaway lead.
“Five weeks ago, we expected a three-horse race and we’ve also been pushed into thinking that City have won it.
“I don’t think we’ve got the three-horse race back this weekend through the fact that Chelsea have won and Liverpool have won and City have drawn.
“But I don’t think we’re going to have that runaway, sort of 20-point championship that we’ve had sometimes with City.”
