Gary Neville previously backed Pep Guardiola’s City to win the Premier League before the campaign started but says he has already been forced to change his mind, with Liverpool now his favourites to lift the title.
The Reds have beaten Leeds United, Chelsea and Arsenal to make a perfect start to their league title defence and Neville says theyvwere ‘outstanding’ during their 3-1 victory over the Gunners on Monday.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the United legend said: ‘I picked Manchester City before the start of the season, when we were asked to make our predictions, just on the basis that they would respond.
‘I thought they would do more in the transfer market, but I’m in the position whereby, and it’s only three games in, I’m going to change my mind.
‘It’s not because of Sunday. I was obviously at the Etihad on Sunday to see Leicester beat City 5-2, but just watching Liverpool, even in that first game against Leeds where some people took out of it that they weren’t at their best, they were sloppy, and you could get at them.
‘That was a mad game, the type of which I have been involved in myself and if you come out of those games on top, when you are not at your best, it demonstrates something.
‘They also signed two players after that game and then they went to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea and they did the business.
‘They then have Arsenal at home, another team near the top of the league, and they’ve done the business again.’
He added: ‘Against Arsenal, the first-half performance was outstanding. When you are up in the gantry, you see more in terms of the shape against on corners.
‘They were really serious about their work. Their reaction to giving the ball away was impeccable all over the pitch. ‘The front three set the tone for it, but everybody else backs them up. They were absolutely outstanding.
‘You can take Jordan Henderson and James Milner out, who used to be the workhorses of this team, and they are all workhorses now.
‘Naby Keita is somebody who has taken a couple of years to get up to speed, but now you see him play and it looks like he’s getting there. Fabinho moves through the game and doesn’t break sweat.
‘Georginio Wijnaldum is a player that you never really give him the credit, but he does everything really well.
‘The whole team, from the goalkeeper right the way through to Roberto Firmino at the top of the pitch, is just outstanding.
‘It’s a really top team and we know that from what they’ve achieved over the last couple of years, but it looks like they’ve come back to do it again.’
