Football
ESPN staff 6y

Man United in for 'the ultimate test' against Liverpool at Anfield - Neville

Playing against Liverpool at Anfield is "the ultimate test" for a Manchester United player, according to Phil Neville.

United travel to Anfield on Saturday and head into the game sitting second in the Premier League, behind leaders Manchester City only on goal difference and seven points ahead of seventh-placed Liverpool.

Neville, who spent 18 years at United, says the clash will be a test of his former club's title aspirations.

"Going to Anfield is the ultimate test for a Manchester United player," Neville told Sky Sports. "Last year Jose Mourinho played down expectations of winning the league. This year fans want a bit of pressure, they want to be talked about as title winners.

"What Saturday will give us is a barometer -- last year they did not beat the top sides. On Saturday I want to see a style that means that after the game we say there is a title-winning side there."

Neville feels United may have a chance of securing three points on Saturday given Liverpool's defensive problems, which he says manager Jurgen Klopp has yet to solve.

"The front six look good, but defensively, and the goalkeeper, he has not addressed that situation," Neville said. "I think he really missed a massive thing in the summer by not selling [Philippe] Coutinho.

"They have not got vast amounts of money, they would have been able to invest in the squad, maybe two defenders. Put two defenders of quality in there and you are talking about a title-winning team.

"They are at the same level they were at two years ago, four years ago, and they can just not get over that point of challenging for the league.

"Look at the players they have bought -- [Andy] Robertson, £8 million. [Ragnar] Klavan, £4m. [Joel] Matip, free transfer. That's almost Championship spending on an area of the field where Liverpool are very weak. You spend that amount of money, you get that level of performance."

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