Gary Neville has insisted Arsenal could win the title instead of Premier League leaders Liverpool if one thing were to happen.
Neville, 49, appeared on Sky Sports after watching Newcastle’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday evening.
The result left United in 14th place in the league, just seven points above the relegation zone.
However, Neville shifted his focus to the title race, with United set to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Arne Slot’s team is currently leading the league with an eight-point advantage over second-place Nottingham Forest.
Despite this, Neville feels that Arsenal, who are third and trail Liverpool by nine points, pose the biggest threat to the Merseyside club winning their 20th Premier League title.
“Liverpool are heavy favourites, and they’re in excellent form, but there’s still a long way to go,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“Arsenal have faced many challenges in recent years. They’ve pushed until the very end, and sometimes when you win for the first time, it doesn’t happen in the expected way—anything can happen.”
When asked what could potentially disrupt Liverpool’s title bid, Neville responded, “Van Dijk.”
“That’s the key point for me. If Van Dijk got injured, it would completely change the situation.”
Neville added, “That six-point lead Arsenal could close in just a few days would quickly vanish without Van Dijk. He’s such a crucial player for Liverpool.”
Van Dijk, 33, is widely regarded as one of Liverpool’s most vital players, having played in all 18 Premier League matches this season.
Despite speculation about his future, with his contract expiring at the end of the 2024/25 season, he has been in outstanding form since Arne Slot’s arrival in the summer of 2024.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah are also set to become free agents at the end of the season, with Alexander-Arnold reportedly linked to a move to Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Salah admitted after Liverpool’s 5-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday that he is “far away” from reaching an agreement on a new contract.
