Advertisement

Gary Neville has clear stance on Man City's Premier League title chances after latest setback

andrew gamble
·3-min read
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have endured horrible form recently
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Gary Neville declared there is “no way back” for Manchester City in the Premier League title race following its draw with Crystal Palace.

At Selhurst Park on Saturday, Crystal Palace shared the points with City in an intriguing 2-2 draw. Palace twice took the lead through Daniel Munoz and, after Erling Haaland equalized, Maxence Lacroix, but Rico Lewis scored a stunning equaliser before he was sent off with six minutes remaining.

The result leaves Manchester City with just one win in their last nine games. Pep Guardiola ’s team are now eight points behind Liverpool and the Reds have a game in hand after the Merseyside Derby against Everton was postponed.

Appearing on NBC Sports’ Premier League Live, Manchester United legend Neville - who won the Premier League eight times across his career - claimed City’s title defense was over. City were already reeling following their comprehensive loss at Anfield, and the point at Selhurst Park was the final straw for Neville.

“I expected him to come up with something different. I expected him to come up with a different solution. I expected to see something that would be innovative - but we’re just seeing the same things every week. We’ve seen [Ilkay] Gundogan and Bernardo Silva in central midfield, and I don’t care if you’re playing a top team like Liverpool last week, or whether you’re playing against one of the lower teams in the league like Crystal Palace, you’re going to fancy your chance if you’re [Eberechi] Eze, if you’re [Ismaila] Sarr, those players in midfield for Crystal Palace because they’re not the best defenders in the world.

“They’re very good players - excellent players - but they haven’t got that balance in the team, and to add to that, the defenders are in terrible form. Really bad form. Kyle Walker is giving a goal away every single week. Rico Lewis at left back and [Josko] Gvardiol, you could get at them all day long, they weren’t sure. [Ruben] Dias is the only real one.

Manchester City players were frustrated as Rico Lewis was sent off for a second yellow card late
Manchester City players were frustrated as Rico Lewis was sent off for a second yellow card late -Credit:Offside via Getty Images

“The goalkeeper I think should do better with the first one - the goalkeepers aren’t even in good form. When you put it all together, you end with a Manchester City that, at this moment in time, I’m going to announce this for the first time in America cause I said before the game I wouldn’t write them off, but I think you can write Manchester City off.

“There’s no way back from this. At this moment of time, there is nothing happening that tells you they’re going to go on a run like they have done in the past.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool is not in a position to extend their advantage over City following the postponement of the clash with Everton due to adverse weather conditions. However, Arsenal travels to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham while Chelsea is at Tottenham. Liverpool is next in action against Girona in the Champions League before hosting Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, Dec. 14.