Arsenal and Liverpool cannot rely on other teams doing them favours if they want to beat Manchester City to the Premier League title, according to Gary Neville.
Pep Guardiola’s defending champions bounced back from an early Marcus Rashford screamer to beat Manchester United in Sunday’s derby, putting them back to within a point of leaders Liverpool. Arsenal can go within two points of top spot by beating Sheffield United on Monday night.
City’s next two league games come away to Liverpool next weekend before hosting Arsenal on March 31.
It is at this point of the season that the Gunners faltered last year whereas Liverpool are hoping to deliver manager Jurgen Klopp an historic farewell from Anfield.
For Neville, both contenders simply must beat City in their upcoming clashes if they are serious about lifting the title.
“Liverpool have got momentum and energy - and the Klopp factor,” he told Sky Sports.
“Arsenal at this moment are the best performing team, defensively and they’ve now started to hit their stride in attack.
“City have got the most experience. All three have got something.
“This is where we’ll find out about all three of them. Can City do it again and get over the line? Can Arsenal do what they didn’t do last year? They completely fell away with ten games to go. This is that moment again.
“I always wanted to see Arsenal in the same position again, with City, to see how far they’ve developed. I think they have developed, with [William] Saliba and [Declan] Rice. They’re better than they were last year and have more power.
“I can’t wait for these next couple of games because we find out really what these teams are about.
“City are the barometer, that’s who they have to try and knock off the perch. That’s what you have to beat them - you can’t say ‘well City might drop points at that ground’ if you’re not beating them yourself.
“You have to beat them if you’re Liverpool and Arsenal.”
