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Gary Neville just fell into the same Liverpool trap again and Arne Slot can prove him wrong

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)


"They won’t win the title." Gary Neville couldn't resist getting that into his latest podcast with Sky Sports, jumping into a question directed at Jamie Carragher.

The "they" he was referring to, of course, was Liverpool, and it is reasonable to think that the Reds would be the third favorites for finishing top of the pile. Only behind Manchester City by a point, though, and only five games into the new Premier League season, it's pretty early to be making such definitive statements.

Liverpool has looked good aside from its dismal defeat against Nottingham Forest. Neville won't need reminding, however, that the Reds wiped the floor with a Manchester United team he is still insistent will finish in the Champions League places.

Alexis Mac Allister praises 'amazing' Arne Slot and names Liverpool ace he's 'lucky' to play with Gary Neville dismisses Liverpool title chances with five-word verdict after Man City vs Arsenal

Beating every other team it has faced so far this season and looking in control of most matches, Liverpool has only conceded one league goal to date. Bigger tests are to come and Arne Slot's roster looks a little light in a couple of areas (namely in midfield) but with a bit of luck, the injury situation won't spiral.

There is a chance, too, that the Reds could dip into the January transfer market. And it is not as if Manchester City and Arsenal's squads are flawless either. Rodri is set to miss at least the majority of the rest of the season with an ACL injury and the Spaniard will leave a massive hole in Pep Guardiola's midfield. Arsenal, meanwhile, still lacks the depth that Liverpool can call upon in attack.

Just as it would be unwise to go overboard with criticism if the defeat to Nottingham Forest was a one-off for Liverpool, going too far the other way with praise would be foolish until the sample size is larger. But on the evidence of what we have seen so far, few teams will have the ability to match Liverpool across the course of the campaign.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN. ON SUNDAY OUT) Head coach Arne Slot and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool and of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on September 01, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) -Credit:Getty images

The Reds are still comfortably better than the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester United and Spurs, who are all pushing to make the top four places. While there was a gap to the top two sides from last season that needs bridging and no game-changing transfers appeared to arrive in the summer, there are other factors at play — not least the Rodri setback.

For that reason, it is hardly inconceivable that Liverpool could go close to winning the Premier League title at the first Slot attempt. It was, after all, in contention until quite near the end last time around. It wouldn't take much more fortune with injuries for a serious push to be mounted again.

And that is certainly what is on the minds of those in the dressing room. "The clean sheet today was a big one as well," Trent Alexander-Arnold told reporters including from Liverpool.com after the win over Bournemouth. "For now, I'm just completely focused on this season; how many clean sheets and assists I can get, and hopefully do enough to help us win the league."

It won't only be the vice-captain with designs on picking up more silverware. In Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool has outstanding players in every position and it would therefore take a brave man to be categorical when it comes to where the Reds might end up this season.

When it comes to Liverpool, though, Neville's predictions are often based far more in hope than expectation.