Neville Assesses PL Title Race

Gary Neville believes the Premier League title race is between the two Manchester clubs ahead of their derby showdown in two weeks, live on Sky Sports.

Manchester City maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the table with a 2-1 victory over Huddersfield on Sunday, while Manchester United also kept pace with a 1-0 win against Brighton.

With the two sides set to do battle at Old Trafford in the first Manchester derby of the season on December 10, Neville says that United are the most capable challengers and need to keep the hope that City could slip up at any moment.

"It definitely does [remain a Manchester duel for the title]. At this moment in time, it is United who are closest to Man City but I don't think Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal or Chelsea are right this season," he said on the Gary Neville Podcast.

"Man Utd are certainly the most capable, I think, to mount a challenge to Man City but it's about getting close enough to them. At the moment, Man City's performances are really good, it's a high level.

"But you have to retain hope if you're Man Utd and think that something could happen in a couple of weeks' time in that Manchester derby that could start a run of results that will put doubt in Man City's mind, that's the only way United can be thinking.

"They certainly have to beat Man City themselves. One thing you can't do it ask other teams to take points from them when you can't go and do it yourself so United have that chance in a few weeks.

"United should not be further away by the time that game comes around in two weeks. Man Utd have got Watford away on Tuesday night before Arsenal on Saturday, while Man City have West Ham and Southampton at home in those two matches.

"So at this moment in time, if you're Man Utd going into that game in two weeks' time and you are still eight points away, I think they would be really happy because they've got two very tough games. Man City on paper, with the way they've been playing, you think would get the six points.

"At the moment, the pressure is all on the other teams because the other teams have to get close to Man City and that's the real problem. I think for United, they have to win at Watford and Arsenal.

"They have to make sure they stay close enough to Man City because it won't be complacency that costs this Man City team, but it could be pressure as it builds through December, January, February if another team can get close to them.

"But over the next few weeks, you could say Man City will be further in front if you look at the fixtures that both Manchester clubs have."

It was a tough test for Man City at the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday, with a late goal from Raheem Sterling sealing another win for the visitors, and Neville believes it is an important victory for them.

"From a Man City point of view, this was a big, big result today. This was the sort of big test," he added.

"The gap could have gone down to five points against Huddersfield who have had a good season so far - they beat Man Utd at home - and you saw the celebration at the end from the Man City staff and players. It wasn't a celebration of a team who thought it was going to be an easy game. They got through it.

"It has been a really high level of performance from Man City so far this season but there is a long way to go. Pep Guardiola, the players and the fans won't be thinking that they've got it in the bag by a long stretch."

Credit: Skysports.com