Gary Neville changes Premier League top-four prediction and names title favourites

Gary Neville admitted that the opening weekend of Premier League action has led to a notable change to his top-four predictions.

Defending champions Liverpool stuttered out of the blocks on opening night, but edged out Bournemouth to win 4-2 in dramatic fashion.

And perhaps the biggest statement of intent came from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who looked back to their ominous best with a dominant 4-0 win over Wolves.

But it was the action at Old Trafford on Sunday, where Arsenal held on for a hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester United, which has led Neville to rethink one of his predictions for the new season.

Ruben Amorim’s side may well have fallen short against the Gunners in front of their home fans, but Neville was so encouraged by his former side’s display that he now believes United can finish inside the top four.

‘It’s a late change but I think there’s a bit of science [behind it],’ Neville said on Sky Sports.

‘Last season, I remember watching Chelsea on the first game of the season and, at that point, no one had Chelsea finishing in the top four I watched them against City and I thought: ‘They are not bad, that will do damage this season, that’s a good team’.

‘When I watched United [against Arsenal], I thought the performance was very good and I think they will get a goalkeeper. I’m banking on that – they will not make the mistake of not getting a goalkeeper in.

‘When you bring a goalkeeper in, and you have those players up front with that front line and you have no European football, I think they will surprise people.

‘Last week I had them finishing sixth to eighth, but I thought the performance was really good and I genuinely liked it.

‘They were high energy… and it was a dominant performance against a top-three team. When United have beaten a top-three team in the last five, six, or seven years, it has been smash and grabs on the counterattack.

‘Yesterday was a loss but I value performances and if they perform like that, they will win a lot of football matches.’

Asked for his title prediction, Neville conceded that there was little to separate the three outstanding candidates – Liverpool, City and Arsenal – but said the signing of Viktor Gyokeres could well get Arsenal over the line.

‘I think they are all in with an equal chance so I’ve got no certainty that Arsenal are going to win it,’ he conceded.

‘They’ve been consistent over the last three years and I do feel they will get there at some point. They are reliable and solid and they’re consistent, which I think is important.

‘I think they’ve got the right materials, they are just going to have to sort that forward bit of the pitch out and I think Gyokeres will.’

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