Gary Neville has it wrong about Man Utd and Liverpool can make him eat his words
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Liverpool.com or go back to LFC Live.
Liverpool lost 3-2 to Manchester United at the weekend, with Arne Slot's men having been defeated twice by the Old Trafford side in the Premier League this seasonGary Neville speaks on his Sky Sports podcast.(Image: Getty Images)Gary Neville getting carried away about Manchester United? We've heard this one before.In the immediate aftermath of Liverpool's 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford, the former Manchester United full-back listed off the reasons he believes that his old side is ready to take the next step.It is undoubtedly well-placed to finish third in the Premier League this season, but there is simply no way that from here that it can be considered a likely contender for the title next term, alongside Manchester City and Arsenal.Pep Guardiola might leave the Etihad Stadium, Neville reasoned, and Mikel Arteta doesn't have Arsenal playing free-flowing stuff.
Within the next couple of years, he senses an "opportunity" for Manchester United to take advantage.READ MORE: Arne Slot error proves costly as Liverpool and Man Utd reality clear - 5 talking pointsREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher reveals long-term Liverpool 'worry' as he calls for summer transfer actionBut, as Jamie Carragher said with a smile as he sat alongside him on his Sky Sports podcast, right now, Manchester United isn't even sure who its permanent manager will be, let alone whether or not that is the right person to bring it back to success.In this game, Manchester United played essentially its best starting XI, aside from at center-back. Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt were both absent, but only one would have likely partnered Harry Maguire at the back, in place of Ayden Heaven.Beyond that, everyone was available for selection.In contrast, Liverpool was missing what could have been its forward line — Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah — in addition to both its first and second choice goalkeepers, Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, and Wataru Endo.Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, and Michael Carrick, interim manager of Manchester United.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Liverpool won the Premier League title 12 months ago and while it lacked cutting edge against Manchester United, the absences in its forward line were substantial.It is a concern that Liverpool looked incapable of creating chances and there have been worrying patterns across the course of the campaign, but there was mitigation in terms of the players who were missing, and it was Manchester United errors that almost proved very costly for the team that ended up winning.This season, Manchester United has played only 37 games to date as a result of not having qualified for any European soccer whatsoever, and being knocked out of both domestic cup competitions in the first round they entered.Liverpool played its 37th game back in mid-February against Sunderland, and has played another 16 since.Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.
Learn moreFrom $100LFC.comSee the dealLiverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world.Despite that, in the Premier League, the only difference between Manchester United and Liverpool is the two games between the sides at Anfield and Old Trafford, won by late-ish goals from Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo.While Virgil van Dijk lamented the latest defeat that Liverpool has suffered and labeled this season as "unacceptable", just six points ahead, Neville was painting Manchester United as a side that should be celebrating its recent efforts.The reality is that both teams have lots of work to do. Liverpool was bad, especially in the first half, but Manchester United was not really much better, not least in the context of a lack of injuries and the easiest possible schedule.Which of the two flawed sides is best set up to take the next step next year?