-Credit:2024 Newcastle United
Gary Neville has admitted he was way off when he tipped Liverpool to finish outside the top four at the beginning of this season.
Manchester United legend Neville predicted that the Reds would finish fifth following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, but the Reds are the runaway Premier League leaders at the turn of the year, leading second-placed Nottingham Forest by eight points and also having a game in hand over Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
In fairness to Neville, not many people were tipping Liverpool to win the league this season following Klopp’s departure, with plenty of soccer fans expecting the club to go through a period of transition after eight and a half great years under the German.
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Liverpool has picked up 45 points from a possible 54 in the Premier League and also has a 100 per cent record in the Champions League, prompting Neville to admit he made a mistake with his pre-season predictions.
“Liverpool, I thought would have a real hangover after Jurgen Klopp leaving and that’s why you’ll see I’ve corrected that with Slot being the manager of the season so far,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “Nuno [Espirito Santo] is a huge contender but I did feel Liverpool would drop off and for them to be so far in front and now favorites for the title, it’s an unbelievable performance and I didn’t expect that.”
Neville and Jamie Carragher had a charity bet at the start of the campaign, with Neville tipping United to finish above Liverpool in the table and Carragher backing his old club to finish higher up.
The loser of the bet would have to pay $6,200 (£5,000) to charity, and Neville confirmed he is ready settle the bet already. “I’ll pay early,” Neville said. “I’ll be like the bookmaker that used to pay out on United at Christmas.”
Liverpool has picked up more than double the amount of points that United has managed, collecting 45 to the Red Devils’ 22, and to add insult to injury, United has actually played one game more than Liverpool.