Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer make Liverpool title point Gary Neville can't bring himself to
It's crazy to think that, but just nine days ago, Chelsea had the chance to move above Liverpool at the top of the Premier League with victory over Everton. They were unable to achieve that, however, and followed the 0-0 Goodison Park draw with shock losses at home to Fulham and away to Ipswich Town.
Liverpool, it's safe to say, have taken full advantage. First up the relentless Reds stormed to a 6-3 success at Tottenham Hotspur before coming from behind to beat Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield.
And they followed up those back-to-back wins with another, on Sunday, as they produced another superb performance to triumph 5-0 at West Ham United.
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Chelsea stumbled, again, at Portman Road the following evening, which means Arne Slot's side now sit a huge 10 points clear, with a game in hand, of the team that many had started to believe were going to be their closest challengers for the title.
Instead, Enzo Maresca's men now find themselves in fourth, behind third-placed Arsenal and surprise package Nottingham Forest, who are currently the nearest side to Liverpool in second, eight points off the pace and having played one match more.
No-one of a Reds persuasion - let alone head coach Slot and his players - will be saying the Premier League championship is now theirs to lose.
But that is what Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer are certainly thinking. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said after the table-topping Reds' romp at the London Stadium: "They were very impressive again.
"They’ve got a big lead now. Nottingham Forest are second. which is an extraordinary effort.
"I honestly can’t see anyone getting near Liverpool now, can you? They’re unstoppable now I think."
Shearer, who famously won the title with Blackburn Rovers on the final day of the 1994-95 season despite losing 2-1 at Anfield, added: "Liverpool have been brilliant, they’re so strong in every position. They’ve got so many options.
"They’re really, really strong and it’s hard to look at anyone else but Liverpool. It’s theirs to chuck away now."
Arsenal will look to cut the gap on the Reds to six points with victory at Brentford on New Year's Day. But even if that was to happen, Liverpool would have a game in hand.
For Gary Neville, who predicted at the start of the season that the Reds would finish below his former club Manchester United and outside of the top four, it is only the Gunners who can now catch the current pacesetters.
And he is still refusing to join the likes of Shearer and Lineker in admitting that Liverpool are the champions in waiting.
“Liverpool are massive favorites and they’re in great form, but there’s still a long way to go,” Neville told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. “Arsenal have been through the mill last couple of years, they’ve gone to the wire, and sometimes when you win your first title, it doesn’t happen in the most expected way and things can happen.
“Things are going against Arsenal in this moment in time, and they’re hanging in there, but they’re the only team that can take it off Liverpool.
“I’m surprised about Chelsea’s defeats in the last couple of games, but I never thought they would win the title this season.
“I think Arsenal have got a resilience to them, they have got a back four that can hold it together and get through games, and I do think they’ll attack better in the next part of the season.
“I think they’ll hang in there, and if they can just get close towards the end, it could be that they can hunt Liverpool down. That’s what I’m hoping for!”
