The former United and England defender says the Merseysiders, who moved to the top of the table at the weekend, are capable of wrestling the Premier League crown away from the Blues - but thinks the champions won’t stop in a quest to win back-to-back titles.
The Daily Star carry the quotes.
‘They can (win the league) and I’ve thought that for a few months,’ Neville said on Sky Sports.
‘However. they’ve got one big problem and that’s Manchester City.
READ: Phil Foden signs deal until 2024
READ: Sane looking to bounce back against Hoffenheim
“They’re up against an outstanding team. If you look at the points clear that Manchester City were last season - Liverpool are only one clear.
‘So for all their efforts, for all their quality, for all their performances, they’re in a dogfight still.
‘‘But they’re at a title-winning level, they have to maintain it and City are not going to let them go.
‘If you look at the points clear that Manchester City were last season - Liverpool are only one clear.
‘They’re going to hang in there with them, not just on a game by game basis, in a season by season basis. That’s going to be tough.’
Maintaining the theme, ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp says dropping into the Europa League could be a mortal blow for his former side’s title hopes.
Liverpool need a particular set of final group game results to qualify for the Champions League Round of 16 and Redknapp fears anything but will hinder any title tilt.
Here Is The City (via The Mail), quote: ‘Qualify for the Champions League knockout stage and they go into Sunday’s Anfield showdown with bitter rivals Manchester United with incredible momentum.
‘Failing to make it through would not only be a significant blow to their confidence but could also mean they are playing Europa League football.
“Playing on Thursday then Sunday is gruelling, and it means you are more likely to have to play catch-up in the Premier League. It would threaten to derail their title push.’
“Redknapp also claimed that Man City‘s shock defeat to Chelsea will likely stamp out complacency and does not foresee any more slip-ups by Pep Guardiola‘s side particularly when Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne are back to full fitness.
‘Up against defending champions City, Liverpool need any advantage they can get. It’s why they must do the job on Tuesday,’ he added.
Finally, The Irish Times are one of many tabloids covering Phil Foden’s new contract extension with the Blues.
As revealed on mancity.com yesterday evening, the teenage playmaker has committed his long-term future to the club he’s supported all his life.
The Irish Times write: “Phil Foden has signed a 5½-year contract extension with Manchester City that ties him to the club until the summer of 2024.
“The 18-year-old midfielder has become a first-team squad regular for the champions this season under Pep Guardiola, with his latest appearance coming as an 84th-minute replacement in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea. In all Foden has played 13 times this season, and Guardiola has continually praised his progress.
“Foden is Stockport-born and a lifelong City fan. His first-team breakthrough came as an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with Celtic in a Champions League group game in December 2016, before a debut in the same competition last November, the opening of 10 appearances that season.
“His maiden City strike came in the 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Oxford in September. Part of the play-maker’s rise came in England’s Under-17 World Cup triumph in October 2017, when Foden scored twice and won the award for the tournament’s best player.
“Foden’s agreement will dampen fears he could be minded to depart City to secure regular matches as a starter, as Jadon Sancho did. Sancho was in the same age group as Foden at City, and in August last year joined Borussia Dortmund.”
More gossip and opinion tomorrow…
