Gary Neville sends Liverpool and Arsenal two-word warning after Man City update

Following Manchester City's 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, Gary Neville has backed Arsenal and Liverpool to lead the Premier League title race. The reigning champions' defeat on Saturday marked their fifth consecutive loss in all competitions; a slip that handed rivals—including Chelsea and Brighton—a shot at the top four.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Manchester United defender stressed that this is an opportunity for Mikel Arteta's team and Arne Slot, and they should feel confident about their title chances. He said: "If you're Arsenal, if you're Liverpool – I'm thinking the two genuine teams that can win the title other than City – you must not get carried away but feel there are no excuses here now.

"I'm looking more at Arsenal with that statement than Liverpool. At the start of the season, anyone looking at Arne Slot coming in and has done what he's done would say: 'I'm not quite sure that will happen'. This was Arsenal's season if it wasn't going to be City's.

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"The pressure is really on Arsenal to step up and go for it, they had a good win today. But for Liverpool to be sat at the top of the league, with that back five they have got and front players and options they have, they must be really fancying it.

"Big game next week (Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield) and I know there is a long way to go but it feels like if City were to win the title, it would be Pep Guardiola's greatest Premier League."

Criticism came heavy on City during Super Sunday as Neville expressed his concern over their performance. He added: "We've seen City lose the odd game here, but we've very rarely seen them outplayed in every department, but that's what we're watching.

"They look well short. As short as I've seen them since Pep's first season. I've not seen them as bad as this, how they've been in the last few weeks. He (Guardiola) will have wanted that international break to come, thinking it would be a reset moment.

"But now here, it further entrenches the opinion this is a City side currently in decline. It seems madness, when you think about what they've achieved. They're easy to play against and teams are encouraged when playing them. The vulnerabilities are clear for everyone to see."