♦ Neville said on March 3 that Liverpool and Arsenal had to beat Manchester City
♦ They failed to do so and now Pep Guardiola’s side have command of title race
♦ IAN LADYMAN and CHRIS SUTTON have their say on the Premier League’s Player of the Year – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
A prediction about the Premier League title race made by Gary Neville last month could well prove to be eerily accurate as Manchester City hit the front entering the final stretch.
Speaking after City had beaten Manchester United 3-1 in the derby on March 3, Neville said on Sky Sports that Liverpool and Arsenal had to beat Pep Guardiola’s team to stand a chance.
A week later, City went to Anfield and came away with a 1-1 draw despite the best efforts of Jurgen Klopp’s men.
On March 31, Arsenal came to the Etihad Stadium and the title clash ended in a goalless draw.
Having failed to beat City, both Liverpool and Arsenal are now feeling the intense pressure of the title race.
Gary Neville’s very accurate prediction about how the Premier League title race will play out has re-emerged after Manchester City capitalised on Arsenal and Liverpool slip-ups
The title appears to be Manchester City’s to lose after they hit the front over the weekend
City remained top after both Liverpool and Arsenal suffered damaging defeats on Sunday
After Guardiola’s side thrashed Luton 5-1 on Saturday, Liverpool lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace and Arsenal went down 2-0 at Aston Villa in major blows to their title aspirations.
It left City two points clear at the top of the table with six matches left to play and fancying their chances of making it four titles in a row.
The clip showing ex-Man United defender Neville predicting precisely this emerged on Sunday night after City’s title rivals both lost.
In it, Neville said: ‘I genuinely think Liverpool and Arsenal have to think they can beat Manchester City.
‘They have to think this way to create this monumental shift in belief that City have they’re going to win the league, it’s their time of year, they’re experienced, they’ve won three on the bounce.
‘I always think when we lost titles, whether it be with Chelsea and [Carlo] Ancelotti, or [Sylvain] Wiltord at Old Trafford, or [Marc] Overmars scoring at Old Trafford, the team that went on to win it came to Old Trafford and won.
‘They didn’t just come to Old Trafford and draw and get a point and did OK, they came and shocked us.
That came after Liverpool lost 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace in a blow to their title ambitions
Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa as their chances of winning the title took a big blow
‘I think that is what Liverpool and Arsenal have to do to take the belief away from this Pep Guardiola team because they’ll think it’s ominous at this moment in time.’
That has failed to happen and now City look favourites to win again given their vast title-winning experience in recent seasons.
Next weekend, Guardiola’s side take on Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Arsenal and Liverpool are in league action, away to Wolves and Fulham respectively.