There have been some bad Liverpool predictions in recent years, not least from Gary Neville, but BBC Sport pundit Pat Nevin matched him in 2024.
The Reds are the reigning Premier League champions, having enjoyed a memorable first season under Arne Slot in 2024/25, seeing off the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City with relative ease.
When Slot came in at Anfield last year, it’s fair to say that not many had Liverpool down as title favourites, with the Gunners and City preferred to them.
Jurgen Klopp’s departure was a big reason for that, with the Reds losing a hugely influential figure, but some pundits went too far.
Speaking last summer, Nevin felt that Liverpool wouldn’t even secure a top-four finish in the league, in quotes provided by The Mirror: “It is just a complete guess with them now, but I am thinking they will need another year under Arne Slot to make the top four.”
Neville said exactly the same, backing both Manchester United and Tottenham to finish ahead of the Reds in the Champions League places:
“I’ve gone for Arsenal. Like I did last year as well. Thinking they’re going to go that one step further and they’re getting closer every time. This could be their year. Manchester City second, Manchester United third, although I say that with a laugh, Tottenham fourth. I mean Manchester United the season before had a good season. The last one was a disaster. I do think they’ll improve enormously.”
Granted, it was fair for some to write Liverpool off in terms of winning the league, considering how significant Klopp’s departure felt, but thinking they would be out of the top four was ridiculous, especially in hindsight.
Instead, the Merseysiders blew everyone else away, securing their second Premier League title, and five wins in a row to start the 2025/26 campaign can only bode well, as they look to clinch back-to-back league crowns for the first time since 1983/84.
Sometimes, Neville simply cannot help himself, allowing his United heart to rule his head, but quite what Nevin was thinking remains to be seen, getting his prediction horribly wrong.
