Few things will bring joy to a Liverpool fan quite like seeing Gary Neville being proved wrong again and again.
The former Manchester United captain has made a habit of letting his heart rule his head when it comes to discussing the Reds. There was the infamous prediction that his old club would win a Premier League title before Liverpool, literally months before Jurgen Klopp’s side ended its 30-year wait for the crown, and who can forget his confidence before a visit to Anfield that ended in a 7-0 rout for the hosts.
Neville outdid himself last summer though as he predicted that United would secure a top-four finish ahead of Liverpool, who wouldn’t even qualify for the Champions League in Arne Slot’s first season in charge. For those that have been living under a rock for the past 12 months, the Reds would go on to win the title again, finishing 42 points ahead of United in *scrolls down the table* 15th.
That would be enough for most people to think twice about backing their team so confidently again, but you can never accuse Neville of not fighting United’s corner, even when it seems to be a losing battle.
Even with Liverpool drawing back level with its biggest rival on 20 league titles, and the mess at Old Trafford growing, the former defender insists there’s still no doubt about which is the bigger club.
"I will always maintain Manchester United are the biggest football club in this country, and that will never change," Nevile said last month. "100 per cent, it's not even a debate.
Gary Neville smiling
Gary Neville is adamant Manchester United will always be a bigger club than Liverpool (Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
"However, the most successful club now, at this moment in time, in this period — and I did add those words on the end — is Liverpool. They've won 20 titles and they've won more European cups, and they're the two trophies that we all measure ourselves by."
That perception that United is still the “bigger” club might be valid for now, although suggesting that it will never change is a bold call - especially when that theory is being tested this summer.
Unsurprisingly, given the yawning chasm between the two sides in the table, Liverpool is demonstrating a much greater pulling power in the transfer window. Florian Wirtz is the obvious player to point to here, given Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were all in the running for his signature, but the Reds’ dominance is maybe even more clear in the expected signing of Milos Kerkez.
Milos Kerkez
Milos Kerkez grew up as a Manchester United fan, but now seems to have his heart set on Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
The left-back grew up as a United fan. He idolized Nemanja Vidic. His dad was a United fan. He has been linked with a move to Old Trafford previously, and he is certainly more than good enough to earn one.
Now though, he looks to have his heart set on a move to Anfield. Even his dad is now adamant that it’s Liverpool or nothing this summer. The Reds have managed to convert a family of United fans - if that doesn’t demonstrate which is the bigger club now, then nothing will.
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Even worse for United is that the same thing could happen again this summer. Hugo Ekitike has also revealed he was a fan of the Red Devils growing up, yet - despite United being in the running for his signature - he could still end up going to Liverpool.
That would be another bitter blow to Neville’s argument, and it’s not like there are a lot more benefits to joining Liverpool over United for Ekitike - even staying put with Eintracht Frankfurt would give Champions League football, something he wouldn’t get at Old Trafford.
Neville will no doubt cling on to his theory and point to the amount of fans the two clubs boast worldwide, but when players are turning their backs on fulfilling a childhood dream to join their biggest rival, it might be time for him to finally admit defeat.