Former Manchester United and Sky Sports football pundit Gary Neville has picked Liverpool to win the title. It won’t be easy, but he advises them to get through the month without Mohamed Salah. Salah is playing for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.

“He’s nervous about Salah’s absence, but Neville has used it as motivation,” the Mirror reported on Wednesday (ET).

“I didn’t think Liverpool would be in contention for the title,” Neville said on his podcast. I still don’t think they’re going to win the title,” Neville said firmly on his podcast.

Liverpool slipped out of the top four last season for the first time in seven years.

The devastating trio of Mane, Firmino and Salah that has always made the Reds a title contender has shown its limitations and faces calls for a generational change.

Liverpool shuffled their forward line, leaving Salah behind. New signings included Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunes.

‘Liverpool overhauled their squad in the summer,’ says the Mirror. It was expected that they would be better than last season, but few thought they would be good enough to challenge for the title. Now Jürgen Klopp has put them in a good position to challenge for a second title.

Neville added: “My hesitation is because of the three players (Gakpo, Nunes and Luis Diaz). They are not yet polished. They are not at the peak of their careers where they can make the right decisions.”

“But Klopp is something different as a manager,” 온라인카지노 he added, hinting at the hope that Klopp might be able to achieve something with a less-than-stellar squad.

After 20 rounds this season, Liverpool lead the table with 45 points from 13 wins, six draws and one loss. They are three points behind second-place Aston Villa. Fierce rivals Manchester City have 40 points after 19 games. Although Liverpool is in first place, it could be overturned in a game or two.

The Nations Cup will take place from January 13 to February 11. In addition to Salah, Liverpool will have midfielder Wataru Endo (Japan) participating in the Asian Cup. Rival Man City have no players participating in the Asian Cup and Nations Cup.