Gary Neville believes Liverpool faces a defining week in the Premier League title race, with challenging trips to Aston Villa and Manchester City on the horizon. The Reds currently hold a seven-point lead over Arsenal, but Neville suggests the Gunners may take encouragement from Liverpool’s recent struggles in tight matches.
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United defender highlighted Liverpool’s narrow victory over Wolves and their dropped points against Everton as signs that pressure is mounting. “I think it was a good day for Liverpool,” he said. “I even think it was half a good day for Arsenal, with Liverpool just getting over the line against a Wolves team I thought was fantastic. They now have Aston Villa away and Man City away coming up.”
Neville noted that title-chasing teams often face difficult games at home where the expectation is a comfortable win. “Sometimes you get a game like that when you are going for a title, when people think you are going to turn up and win easy,” he explained. “You’re 2-0 up and you think you’re going to go on and score three or four, but it turns out to be a difficult afternoon. That’s why it’s a good result for Liverpool.”
Despite their lead at the top, Neville believes Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures could be pivotal in determining the title race. He warned that Villa Park remains a dangerous venue despite Aston Villa’s inconsistent form and described City as a team fully capable of punishing any mistakes. “This next week is big,” Neville stressed. “Villa aren’t in the best of form, but Villa Park is a ground where you can get caught out. Man City is another place where you can absolutely get caught out. They have the players who can 100 per cent score two or three goals against you.”
Neville suggested that if Liverpool can come away with at least four points from these two crucial games, they will be in an excellent position to win the league. However, if they slip up, Arsenal could gain the upper hand. “If Liverpool can get four points out of the next two games, they will be in a really good position to go and win the league because Arsenal are going to drop points as well,” he claimed.
Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures include matches against Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Chelsea, which Neville believes could see them falter. “If the gap can stay at seven points through this difficult period, that will be about par,” he concluded.
While Liverpool prepare for a tough week, Arsenal have just one fixture—at home to West Ham—before the Carabao Cup final causes further scheduling adjustments. With the title race heating up, all eyes will be on how Liverpool handle the pressure as they take on two of the Premier League’s most dangerous sides.
