Gary Neville: Only Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have proved they can challenge Man City

Plus: Why the Sky Sports pundit says, "I like this Pep Guardiola team more than the other Pep Guardiola team". He added: "They have a team of monsters"

By Gary Neville, Football Expert @GNev2

Gary Neville believes Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool is the best-placed team to challenge Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the near future.

Gary Neville believes Liverpool remain the team most likely to stop Manchester City's ongoing domination of the Premier League.

Arsenal's defeat at Nottingham Forest on Sunday confirmed City's fifth Premier League crown in the last six years.

The FA Cup and Champions League could still follow with Neville reckoning it would be "a miracle" if Pep Guardiola's side don't complete a treble in the next month.

Manchester United and Inter Milan remain the only obstacles between City and completion of what would be only the second Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in history, but what of next season and the task of identifying the team best equipped to halt City's winning machine domestically?

Ilkay Gundogan lifts the Premier League trophy as Manchester City celebrate their third successive title with a 1-0 win against Chelsea

"You have to have a great manager and a great group of players to do what City have done and the other clubs have got to aspire to that," said Neville.

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"At this moment, the one team which has proved that [it can challenge City] over the past five or six years are Liverpool.

"Arsenal have run City close this year but the only team which l can say at the moment has demonstrated they can go close to Pep Guardiola's City are Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

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"I know they have dropped well below those standards this season but [they can] get back to those standards next season because they have proven they can do that before."

Although City's title triumphs in the Premier League have become a regular occurrence, an approving Neville has welcomed a significant change in City's approach this term following last summer's signing of goal machine Erling Haaland.

"This is my favourite Pep Guardiola team and the one which l would like to play against the least," said Neville. "I like this Pep Guardiola team more than the other Pep Guardiola team.

"The last 10 matches has probably been the best l have seen Man City play what l like in football.

"I like the powerful back four. I like a strong back four - one which doesn't give you a chance. The midfield is outstanding. But l like the imperfection that Haaland brings, the idea that not everything is perfect. I like that they can go long, they can cross the ball from areas from far out.

Gary Neville believes the newly confirmed champions Manchester City aren't perfect which makes them even more dangerous

"I have enjoyed watching this Man City team more than in previous seasons or when Pep Guardiola was at Barcelona because l felt as though that was a repetitive, technical machine.

"This one has power, strength and on set-pieces they have a team of monsters.

"This is a very different Pep Guardiola team in terms of physicality. I like that they are not as perfect on the ball as they were but I think it makes them more dangerous.

"I don't think they would have been able to achieve what they are achieving if they didn't have that power and physicality and Haaland presence.

"The football isn't technically as perfect but l think it is more entertaining."

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