Gary Neville Claims Liverpool Are the ‘Only Team’ That Can Stop Arsenal from Winning the Premier League Title

Manchester United legend rules Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City out of title race as Arsenal’s dominance continues

Gary Neville believes Arsenal’s march toward the Premier League title is gathering unstoppable momentum — and that only one club, Liverpool, can derail their charge. The former Manchester United captain and Sky Sports pundit has boldly ruled out Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City from the title picture, suggesting the reigning champions “don’t have the same energy or consistency” that once made them unstoppable.

Speaking on NBC Sports, Neville said it feels like the Gunners’ moment has finally arrived after years of steady progress under Mikel Arteta, and he’s adamant that this season “has to be their year.”

“This has got to be them, hasn’t it? This has got to be their year,” Neville said on The Gary Neville Podcast. “I’ve backed Arsenal for the title for four seasons in a row, and this time I think they’ll do it. They don’t need to reach 95 or 100 points — mid-to-high 80s will be enough this year, and they’ve got that consistency now. They’re reliable, disciplined, and they know how to win ugly as well as beautifully.”

Neville backs Arsenal as the most complete side in the Premier League

Liverpool v Aston Villa – Premier League Neville

Neville has long been a believer in Arteta’s project, but this season feels different. Arsenal’s blend of youth, experience, and tactical flexibility has impressed even their rivals, with the Gunners winning eight of their first ten Premier League matches and sitting comfortably seven points clear at the top.

Neville points to the Gunners’ defensive solidity and squad depth as key reasons for his confidence.

“The way they defend is outstanding,” he said. “They don’t concede soft goals anymore, and everyone seems to know their role. Even when they rotate, the quality doesn’t drop. They’ve got four fantastic full-backs, three excellent centre-halves, and a midfield that’s solid and creative. Declan Rice has been a game-changer — not just for his ability but for his mentality.”

He also praised Arsenal’s attacking options, highlighting the variety of threats in Arteta’s setup.

“They haven’t got a traditional 30-goal striker, but they’ve got goal threats everywhere — [Gabriel] Martinelli, [Leandro] Trossard, [Eberechi] Eze, [Noni] Madueke. They can all score. Even Rice gives them goals from set pieces. That kind of balance is what wins you titles.”

The only real threat: Liverpool

arsenal

While many pundits continue to include Manchester City in the conversation, Neville sees Liverpool as the only genuine threat to Arsenal’s title hopes — and even then, he insists Jurgen Klopp’s side have work to do to rediscover their best form.

“Arsenal would have to beat themselves not to win it,” Neville said. “I don’t think Manchester City are going to get back to the level they’ve been at in recent years. Pep Guardiola is a genius, but this squad doesn’t have the same intensity. They’re not the City of 2018–2022. Liverpool are the only team who can challenge them, but they’d have to get back on track quickly.”

Neville’s comments came as Liverpool finally snapped a four-game losing streak, defeating Aston Villa 2–0 at Anfield thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch. The win lifted the Reds to third place, offering a timely boost to a team that had looked mentally and physically drained in recent weeks.

Still, Neville remains cautious about their long-term prospects.

“If Liverpool can stay fit — if Van Dijk, Salah, and Alisson all stay on the pitch — they’ll be in it until the end. But if they lose even one of them for a long spell, that’s where Arsenal pull away. Arsenal’s strength is their depth; Liverpool can’t say the same right now.”

Why Neville has ruled out Manchester City

The most striking part of Neville’s assessment is his firm stance on ruling Manchester City out of the title race. Despite Guardiola’s history of late-season dominance, the pundit feels this iteration of City lacks the balance and hunger of previous campaigns.

City’s performances this season have been inconsistent, with surprise defeats to Crystal Palace and West Ham raising questions about their intensity. Neville suggested that the relentless pursuit of perfection under Guardiola might finally be taking its toll.

“City have been at an incredible level for so long,” Neville said. “But it’s not sustainable forever. Players lose sharpness, hunger, and even small tactical shifts can make a huge difference. Pep’s still the best, but even geniuses can’t keep a team at 100% forever.”

The Sky Blues’ defence, once imperious, has shown cracks. Injuries to key players and the departure of veterans like Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva over the summer have disrupted the rhythm that defined their dominance. Erling Haaland continues to score goals, but City’s midfield has struggled for control without Kevin De Bruyne at his peak fitness.

Arsenal’s mentality finally matching their quality

Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Arsenal fans — and the biggest reason for Neville’s belief — is that this Gunners side finally looks mentally strong enough to go the distance.

Over the past two seasons, Arteta’s men faltered during critical moments. In 2023–24, they lost their nerve in the final six games, allowing Liverpool to snatch the title. But this time, the maturity of players like Rice, Martin Ødegaard, and William Saliba seems to be making the difference.

Arsenal’s 2–0 win over Burnley last weekend marked their ninth straight victory in all competitions, and they’ve shown they can grind out results even when performances aren’t perfect.

“They’ve learned how to win,” Neville said. “You can’t always play champagne football, but if you can pick up three points when you’re below your best — that’s what champions do. That’s where Arsenal have improved massively.”

He also emphasised how important Arteta’s evolution has been. The Spaniard, once accused of being overly intense on the sidelines, now appears calmer and more composed.

“Arteta looks more relaxed this season. He trusts his players, and that’s feeding through to the team. The players look like they believe every single week they’re going to win. That belief is what separates the great teams from the good ones.”

What’s next for Arsenal and Liverpool

Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures will test their resilience. They travel to the Czech Republic to face Slavia Praha in the Champions League on Tuesday before heading to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland in the Premier League next weekend.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will aim to build on their win over Villa as they prepare for a tricky away trip to Brentford, followed by a Europa League clash with Atalanta.

If both teams maintain form, a potential title-deciding clash at Anfield in March could be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season.

Verdict: Arsenal’s title to lose

Gary Neville’s confidence in Arsenal may surprise some, but it’s hard to argue with the evidence. The Gunners look composed, confident, and complete. They have depth in every position, the best defensive record in the league, and a manager whose philosophy has finally matured into a winning formula.

Liverpool may still have a say, but as things stand, it’s hard to look past the red half of north London.

“They’ve been building toward this for years,” Neville concluded. “They’re ready now. If they don’t win it this season, it’ll be because they beat themselves — not because anyone else took it off them.”

Arsenal’s fans have heard similar words before, but this time, even the sceptics are starting to believe.