Speaking on his podcast, Neville said: "With Dias injured, they are going to teams who have got systems of play that can hurt Man City. I do believe Wolves or West Ham could shock them...City will need to be at their best as their centre-back partnership has been obliterated."
Monday 9 May 2022 13:45, UK
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville thinks the injury to Man City's Ruben Dias boosts Liverpool's chances in a title race that he claims "isn't over yet".
City moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle meaning they require just seven points from their remaining three fixtures away at Wolves and West Ham and a home clash with Aston Villa to retain the title.
However, speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United defender thinks Liverpool can still catch City with the injury to Dias - suffered in the win over Newcastle - leaving City vulnerable at the heart of their defence.
Read on for his verdict or listen to the podcasts below...
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Neville said: "I do believe Wolves or West Ham could shock Manchester City.
"With Ruben Dias injured, they are going to teams who have got systems of play that can hurt City. Both teams have had good seasons. They are awkward. City will need to be at their best. The centre-back partnership has been obliterated. The injury is a boost for Liverpool's chances. I do think there is something left in this title race. It won't go plain sailing to the end.
"If City get through the next two, they'll win it. Wolves or West Ham have to pull points off City but it's not over.
"If Liverpool had to pick two away games to send City to it probably would be Arsenal and Tottenham, but after that it would be West Ham and Wolves. Manchester United have gone and Chelsea have dropped their levels. There is a lot to play for. It's good for the league that Liverpool are playing first and can get level. I don't think Liverpool will drop points. They will do their job.
"Whoever finishes first or second you won't say the other one has blown it or bottled it. These two teams never disappoint with their work-rate or attitude. Being professional and preparing well is a permanent thing. These two teams do it so well. They care about their work, their attitude, their ethos. It's constant. Under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, it's been faultless."
Down at the bottom of the Premier League, Leeds lost to Arsenal while Everton ground out a huge win at Leicester. The result means Leeds drop into the bottom three.
Neville said: "I fear for Leeds I really do. They are favourites to go down. Everything that could go wrong, Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling, the spirit and energy of the club, is not there. They are massive players. What Ayling has done will cost them.
"We'll see what happens. But we've got a title race, a good top-four race and a compelling yet awful relegation battle.
"The desperation of going down. And the financial loss is too great. That drop is enormous and a club is going to suffer it. We hear rumours of Burnley paying a £65m loan back, imagine the losses that Everton would suffer and there will be lots of losses at Leeds too.
"It's going to be awful. I've heard the difference between staying up and going down for a Premier League club is £120m of cash they'd have to put in if they didn't sell any players. It's not pocket change. That can't be right that the cliff edge is so steep. The fall is so big. But that's the Premier League."
Although Manchester City have had to deal with one of their worst defensive injury crises in years they are not yet down to Liverpool's depths of playing Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips last season.
Aymeric Laporte has been a stalwart of their backline in recent years and although 37-year-old Fernandinho may not be his ideal partner, the Brazil international deputised regularly at centre-back when Laporte himself was ruled out for much of the season.
Fernandinho, who is leaving City at the end of the season, replaced Dias in the victory over Newcastle and asked how crucial he now becomes, Guardiola said: "A lot, otherwise, it's CJ (Ega-Riley) or (Luke) Mbete.
"In this situation it's not a problem, Rodri can play there. We have the academy. Everyone has to do extra. Thirteen players and a half for these games and everyone has to do more and more to help our absence. We arrive with problems and that's all. Fernandinho did good and we are going to do it."
