Gary Neville backs Man City to retain title by ’15-20 points’ after 6-3 derby day mauling of United

Gary Neville has backed Manchester City to run away with the Premier League title this season by a landslide margin after an impressive display against Manchester United on Sunday.

The former United defender believes City will retain their Premier League crown by ’15-20′ points, despite trailing league leaders Arsenal by a point after their own derby win at the weekend. 

Erling Haaland starred with his third consecutive Premier League hat-trick at the Etihad as well as two assists, with Phil Foden becoming the first Manchester-born City player to bag a hat-trick in the derby too.  

The former England and Manchester United right-back told the Gary Neville Podcast: ‘They [United] responded in the second half and were playing against something that is just abnormal in Haaland and City. I think they can win this league by 15-20 points.

‘It feels like a ridiculous statement to make when they’re not even top of the league at this moment in time – but I think they’re that good.

‘When the league settles down, when they start to really get into it, the signs are there, they’re scoring that many goals, they’ve got three of their best players missing today.’

Gary Neville believes City will runaway with the league and win by ’15-20′ points this season

The summer acquisition of Norwegian international Haaland signalled for many the final piece of Pep Guardiola’s jigsaw being added to an already glittering squad. 

City had struggled last season with converting chances without a recognised No 9 on the pitch, despite still keeping hold of the Premier League title for a second year running on the final day of the 2021-22 season. 

And Haaland’s ominous ability to profit from City’s creativity this season has lead many to predict an unassailable dominance in the league comparable to that of PSG and Bayern Munich in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga respectively. 

Neville also admitted he wanted sides to be able to challenge Guardiola’s City for the title

Neville added: ‘ I just feel like they can win this league quite easily. I hope it’s not the case, obviously, because I want us to have competition and it to be really a fascinating season and for them to be pushed all the way, if not to be beaten.

‘But I just feel like what I’ve watched there is something exceptional.’

But the Sky pundit is not the only one to predict another victory for City, despite sitting in second place after eight games so far this season. 

The Sky Sports pundit shared two pictures: one pre-match and one at half-time

Arsenal’s legendary former manager Arsene Wenger has tipped his side to finish second behind City, so dominant are the Etihad outfit, as he predicts yet another title-winning procession through the blue half of Manchester this summer. 

The 72-year-old told beIN SPORTS that he felt Arsenal were in a very strong position after a promising start to the new season, most recently capped by their own 3-1 derby day win over Spurs at the Emirates.

Wenger said: ‘Personally I would put them just behind City. The second best team to have a good chance to win the Premiership [sic]. Man City at some stage will focus highly on the Champions League.’