Monday 21 January 2019 19:48, UK
Gary Neville discussed the different type of pressure Liverpool will face as Manchester City look to close the gap on the Premier League leaders.
Liverpool opened up a seven-point gap at the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Crystal Palace, only for City to reduce their lead once more to four with a 3-0 win over Huddersfield.
This was a similar tale to the weekend before, with Liverpool beating Brighton 1-0 on the Saturday before City saw off Wolves 3-0 on Monday Night Football.
However, the trend is set to reverse in the coming weeks, with City heading to Newcastle next Tuesday before Liverpool host Leicester on Wednesday.
The following matchday will then see City welcome Arsenal on Sunday, February 3 - live on Sky Sports Premier League - before Liverpool head to West Ham on Monday Night Football, so long as the Hammers avoid an FA Cup replay.
Asked what advantage is gained by playing first on the Gary Neville Podcast, eight-time league champion Neville replied: "A big difference, it's preferable. There was a period where we [Manchester United] were playing and going for leagues, and we felt big advantages were gained by playing first.
"It would always be preferable for teams involved in a title race, to play first and get the opportunity to put points on the board and either go further ahead or close the gap.
"There's no doubt it's a different type of pressure. City will absolutely want to be closing that gap to one point and asking Liverpool have they got it within them to withstand the pressure of playing a day or two after.
"Both teams will have to cope with it but definitely playing first is an advantage."
With City still hot on the heels of Liverpool, and having beaten them at the Etihad Stadium on January 3, Neville said the priority for Guardiola will be to draw on the experience of his players as the season draws towards its climax.
He said: "The emotion surrounding a Liverpool title run-in, like we saw a few years ago, is going to come again. It's a huge club, having not won it for well over 25 years and the fact it means so much, Jurgen Klopp brings that sort of passion too... that moment is coming to come where it gets really ramped up.
"I interviewed Klopp a few weeks ago and he plays it down, but he's been here before with Dortmund. A lot of the players haven't, a lot haven't been through a title run-in with Liverpool.
"City will want to play on their experience and composure and it does count, but you've got to be in there, neck and neck, and City will want to make sure going into April and May, the last six or seven games, Liverpool are under the maximum pressure, which means level or just in front.
"Then Liverpool will have a lot of questions to answer."
