GARY NEVILLE believes Manchester United are two key signings away from having a title-winning team.
The Red Devils top the Premier League table after Sunday’s goalless draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
Gary Neville believes Manchester United are two signings away from being genuine title challengersCredit: PA:Press Association
Paul Pogba was denied by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson in the goalless draw at AnfieldCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lamented an ‘opportunity missed’ after his side failed to make the most of their chances.
Neville says Liverpool were ‘there for the taking’ because of Jurgen Klopp’s defensive injuries.
And the Old Trafford legend believes a couple of players could have been the difference between one point and three.
He said on The Gary Neville Podcast: “I look at this game and think where can you go from being [challengers] to being title winners.
“One thing would be that Manchester United need to push up the pitch a bit more, to be up in the game a little bit more.
“If you look at Liverpool, even with Fabinho and [Jordan] Henderson, they’re well up the pitch, they’re playing on the halfway line. You look at Manchester United, they’re just playing a little bit deeper.
“I think when they come here and play 10 yards further up the pitch – maybe in a couple of seasons or next season when maybe they’ve got maybe another centre-half in the club who can give them that confidence to do so – at that point that’s when you’ll start to see them doing it.
“The other bit is that right-hand side is emerging… well, not emerging, it is a problem. There’s no doubt. Juan Mata has played there, [Daniel] James has played there, [Paul] Pogba has played there, [Marcus] Rashford’s played there, [Donny] Van de Beek’s played there, [Mason] Greenwood’s played there.
“That’s six players that I can think of and I’ve probably missed out some that have played in that position and no-one’s cemented it.
“We know that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted that right wing position filled in the summer, he didn’t get it, and it’s just posing a little bit of a problem. Because I think if there was a goalscoring right winger in that squad today, with Rashford and Martial – and maybe Greenwood could have been the person but he’s just not quite there yet – that I think would potentially be a difference.”
Neville believes the need for two signings is similar to Liverpool’s game-changing deals for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson in 2018 – the final pieces of Klopp’s puzzle on the way to winning the Champions League and Premier League.
He added: “So a centre-back that gets them up the pitch that extra 10 yards and maybe that right winger.
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“There’s still a question mark over whether the centre-forwards are good enough, but at the moment those are the two positions I would focus most on.
“We know that Liverpool’s problems were a goalkeeper and a centre-back and they got Alisson and they got Van Dijk.
“Manchester United just need that little bit of belief, couple of extra players, they’re not as far away as it looks if Liverpool and Manchester City stay at this standard and don’t jump back up to that 100-points-a-season standard which is incredible.”
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to Man Utd’s draw with Liverpool at Anfield
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
