Gary Neville says that if he were Liverpool – which would be both impressive and confusing – he “would kick” the Champions League “into touch”.
Liverpool reached the Champions League final last season, falling at the final hurdle to Real Madrid in Kiev.
Their Premier League form suffered somewhat as a result of their European excursions, yet they still managed to finish fourth and qualify for this season’s competition.
Neville feels they should consider sacking it off for a bit, however, instead prioritising a Premier League title push.
“The Champions League – if I was Liverpool, I would kick it into touch,” he told The Times. “I know that’s very hard to do but if they could go into February, March, April without it, I think they could have a real chance if they had free weeks.
“Why? I think their method is exhausting for the front three. The drop in quality below them, if there are injuries or playing Wednesday, Saturday, I think it will take its toll.
“But, as a United fan, I am very concerned about them. This front three have always been fantastic and now the midfield can run, it can pass, it has depth. And the back four looks a unit.
“The football they are playing under Jürgen Klopp, it’s fantastic. As a United fan, that’s a worry because it is still that mentality of ‘anyone but them’.
“Same for them, anyone but us. That’s not ‘Gary Neville he’s a Red, he hates Scousers’. Those days have gone. I am more thoughtful now.
“But it’s a worry. I got a glimpse a few years ago when Brendan Rodgers was going for it, thousands lining the streets, the fireworks before a game. I thought then, ‘Imagine if they win this.’ I was turning up at Anfield three hours early because I couldn’t get into the ground otherwise.”
