Gary Neville is always wrong about Liverpool and Arne Slot can prove it again

Gary Neville simply cannot be objective when it comes to Manchester United and Liverpool.  

The former Red Devil always overhypes his former side, with the delusion of a fan in complete denial, while his deep-seated hatred for the Reds is evident whenever the 2019/20 Premier League champions are a topic of discussion.

Read more: Neville can't hide Man Utd BIAS v Liverpool

In August, Neville claimed Liverpool’s midfield wasn’t as good as the middle-third options that Erik ten Hag at his disposal. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “Ermmm, I wouldn’t say they were superior in respects of a particular area.

“I think in midfield, if I look at Manchester United’s midfield players, if you add equal coaches – and we don’t know what Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot are going to match up like – I do think Liverpool, with [Wataru] Endo, [Dominik] Szoboszlai and [Alexis] Mac Allister, they’ve done unbelievably well to get the performance levels out of those three that they have with Jurgen Klopp.

"I really do question [whether] that midfield three is going to stand up throughout the season. If it does again, I’ll take my hat off to them, ‘well done, unbelievable, you’ve proven me wrong’. I think Manchester United have got more in midfield, more depth, good players in there. Kobbie Mainoo has come into that midfield alongside Casemiro. [Bruno] Fernandes is in there, Mason Mount, McTominay – they’ve got five players in there.”

Liverpool make mockery of Neville claims

Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford for their third match of the campaign and recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over their hosts. Ryan Gravenberch was named as the Player of the Match, Mac Allister bullied Mainoo for the third goal and Dominik Szoboszlai claimed an assist. Those in midfield for the Reds made a mockery of Neville’s claims.

Undeterred by looking silly, Neville has once again looked to have a pop at Liverpool.

Speaking on ‘The Gary Neville Podcast’, the 49-year-old said: “I didn’t think Liverpool were anywhere near their best [against Wolves] and I think that they’re going to have a decent season it looks like. Maybe get Champions League football, I didn’t feel like I was watching title winners being honest with you.”

Granted, Arne Slot’s men weren’t at their best at Molineux. But they still deserved the three points and isn’t grinding out results a sign of champions? That is what we’re regularly told, isn’t it?

Reds did more than enough to win

Liverpool recorded an Expected Goals haul of 2.54 against Wolves. Meanwhile, the hosts finished with an Expected Goals total of just 0.63,  and their actual goal, which stemmed from a defensive mix-up rather than a brilliant piece of play, had a value of 0.38. Remove that from the total and Gary O’Neil’s men had chances with an xG value of 0.25.

So, in a nutshell, the Reds were defensively dominant while doing more than enough in attack to deserve the win.

What, exactly, about that performance and the underlying numbers, is a red flag when determining whether the Reds can mount a title challenge?

Slot’s side are currently the third-highest scorers in the Premier League, averaging two goals per game. They have the best defensive record, having allowed 0.3 goals per 90 across their six outings. Liverpool rank second for Expected Goals (12.6 at a rate of 2.1 per 90) and have the lowest xG Conceded (4.45 in total and 0.75 per 90).

Last season, when the Reds mounted what was viewed as an unlikely title challenge, they had the third-highest goals per game total (2.2) and the third-best defensive record (1.1 goals against per 90).

Their xG haul of 89.4 (2.35 per game) was the highest but their defence let them down, with opposition teams racking up chances with an xG value of 1.21 on a per 90 basis.

Klopp had the attack but not the defence

Jurgen Klopp’s men had the attack for a title challenge but not the defence. This time around,  the Reds appear to have fixed their defensive issues. At least against the opposition they’ve come up against so far this season.

In fact, the numbers this term aren’t far off what the Reds were posting during their 92-point season in 2021/22. During the quadruple charge, Liverpool had an xG average of 2.42 and an xG against per 90 average of 0.9.

The sample size isn’t the largest and the fixture list has been favourable but how do you assess these results and performances and decide this team can’t mount a title challenge?

Neville hasn’t been at all objective when making that comment about this Liverpool team. He usually ends up being wrong, so who knows what might happen this season.