After Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday, former captain Gary Neville shared his thoughts, suggesting that Arsenal could still challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title, but only if one key factor comes into play.
Neville reflected on United’s disappointing performance, which left them in 14th place, just seven points clear of the relegation zone. However, he quickly turned his attention to the title race, with Liverpool set to face United at Anfield next Sunday. At the moment, Liverpool lead the Premier League by eight points, with Arsenal nine points behind in third. Despite Liverpool’s strong form, Neville named Arsenal as the biggest threat to their pursuit of a 20th league title.
“Liverpool are huge favorites and in great form, but there’s still a long way to go,” Neville said. “Arsenal have had their struggles in recent years, but sometimes when you finally win, it happens unexpectedly. Things can change.”
When asked about what could derail Liverpool’s title challenge, Neville pointed to Virgil van Dijk as a crucial factor. “If Van Dijk got injured, it would change everything,” he stated. “That six-point gap that Arsenal have could vanish quickly. Van Dijk is so important for Liverpool.”
Van Dijk, 33, has been a central figure for Liverpool this season, playing in all 18 league games under manager Arne Slot and maintaining excellent form despite speculation about his future. His contract, along with those of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, is set to expire in 2025.
