Earlier in May, former Manchester United players and current football pundits Gary Neville and Roy Keane had played down the chances of Arsenal winning the Premier League trophy and picking Manchester City to defend the crown instead. Despite the Gunners opening up a four-point lead at the top of the table following City’s 1-0 slip-up at Liverpool, both Neville and Keane still believe in their initial prediction.

Sunday was a jam-packed fixture schedule on the Premier League calendar. Mikel Arteta’s side had to hold on to secure a 1-0 victory at Elland Road against Leeds United thanks to Bukayo Saka’s first-half goal. However, City failed to keep up with them after suffering a 1-0 loss against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool with Mohamed Salah scoring the winning goal in the second half of the contest.

Pep Guardiola’s defending champions are four points behind Arsenal as a result, but Manchester United legends Neville and Keane still predict they will retain their crown.

After the conclusion of Premier League action on Sunday, former England defender Gary Neville was asked whether he still thinks that City will ‘run away with the title. “I still believe they will. I don’t think today changes it. This is a freak game playing at Anfield and I think, for City, it’s the most difficult game they have.

“I still think City will run away with it. I think Arsenal will return to Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Newcastle. And I think City will just go away. This season is a very different season as well. Post-World Cup, it could be completely different than it is now,” said Neville.

Neville’s opinion on the title race was also echoed by his former United teammate and current punditry partner Roy Keane. While Keane also believes in Pep Guardiola’s side’s title-winning chances, he went out of his way to heap praise on Arsenal, their recruitment over the summer, as well as Mikel Arteta, restoring a ‘feel good factor to the Emirates Stadium.

The former midfield general also pointed out that the Gunners have benefited from their fair share of “luck”, with Patrick Bamford squandering the chance to equalize for Leeds by dragging his penalty wide.