The pundit feels Liverpool still lack a midfield enforcer (Pictures: Getty / Sky Sports)
Gary Neville believes Liverpool’s lack of a top-class defensive midfielder could ultimately prove costly and feels they would be title favourites with Declan Rice or Rodri in their team.
Although they have failed to win their last two Premier League matches, the Merseysiders are well positioned to challenge for the title and sit just three points adrift of table toppers Tottenham after eight games.
Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester City have all made strong starts to the season in what could potentially be one of the most open title races in years.
Neville is confident Liverpool – the only team to break Pep Guardiola’s stranglehold on the division – will be in the mix too, though feels they might even have been favourites had they invested in a top quality enforcer of Rice or Rodri’s ilk in the summer.
Speaking about this season’s potential title race on The Gary Neville Podcast, he explained: ‘I think Liverpool are obviously involved in it as well.
‘They could [have the legs to go all the way], they’re more likely to than Spurs, no doubt about that.
‘Liverpool have got something about them. Today [Sunday] they’ve played against a really good Brighton side.
‘They’ve got an outstanding goalkeeper that I always think will keep them in a lot of football matches.
Neville feels Liverpool are missing a player like Rice (Picture: Getty)
‘And they’ve got strikers who can score goals – and lots of them. They’ve got a good forward line.
‘The midfield… it’s attacking, but has it got the defensive stability of what we’ve seen here today [at the Emirates], when Rodri comes back in, and when you see Rice and Partey and Jorginho.
‘Have they got that defensive stability, Liverpool?
‘If you put Declan Rice in Liverpool’s holding midfield position – or you put Rodri in there – I would be saying Liverpool will definitely be on for the title.
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‘My question mark is whether they’ve got enough solidity in midfield, enough defensive strength and power.
‘So I don’t think Liverpool will quite get there, but they’re in the race, there’s no doubt, because of the manager.
‘Their manager is absolutely outstanding, he’s one of the best. But I think it will be Arsenal and City again come towards the end.’
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