Gary Neville has ruled four teams out of the Premier League title race.
After 13 games, Manchester City are top of the table, with 37 points from a possible 39. So far this season, Everton, back in August, are the only team to take points off Pep Guardiola’s side, and City look on course to wrap up a comfortable title victory as the Premier League season enters its busiest period. Manchester United are in second place with 29 points from 13 games, with champions Chelsea in third on 26 points.
Arsenal complete the current top four with 25 points, Tottenham Hotspur are fifth with 24 points and Liverpool are sixth with 23 points. Burnley have had a brilliant season and sit in seventh with 22 points.
However, Neville reckons none of the top six can mount a challenge to City this season – other than United. The two Manchester clubs play each other on December 10 at Old Trafford, and Neville has said a positive result for the home side could knock City out of their stride.
“At this moment in time, it is United who are closest to Man City but I don’t think Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal or Chelsea are right this season,” he said on The Gary Neville Podcast for Sky Sports.
“Man United are certainly the most capable, I think, to mount a challenge to Man City but it’s about getting close enough to them. At the moment, Man City’s performances are really good, it’s a high level. But you have to retain hope if you’re Man United and think that something could happen in a couple of weeks’ time in that Manchester derby that could start a run of results that will put doubt in Man City’s mind, that’s the only way United can be thinking.”
“They certainly have to beat Man City themselves. One thing you can’t do it ask other teams to take points from them when you can’t go and do it yourself so United have that chance in a few weeks. United should not be further away by the time that game comes around in two weeks. Man United have got Watford away on Tuesday night before Arsenal on Saturday, while Man City have West Ham and Southampton at home in those two matches. So at this moment in time, if you’re Man United going into that game in two weeks’ time and you are still eight points away, I think they would be really happy because they’ve got two very tough games. Man City on paper, with the way they’ve been playing, you think would get the six points.”
Neville did concede that City could be “further in front” of the pack in a few weeks, but it’s difficult to fully agree with his logic about it being a two-horse race between the Manchester clubs.
It appears United are currently as likely to mount a challenge to City’s dominance as any of the top six. They’re eight points behind the league leaders, and could be further back if they fail to beat Watford, Arsenal and then City. If you’re going to rule Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs out of the title race on the basis of the current table, then you may as well rule out United too. Especially given Jose Mourinho’s poor record against the top six in recent seasons.
Either way, it will take a massive collapse for City to lose it from here.
