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Race for Fourth

'They don't have a Plan B' - Neville sees Liverpool as weakest of Premier League's top six

The ex-ManUnited defender believes struggles against bottom-half sides could cost the Reds in the scrap for Champions League qualification.

LIVERPOOL COULD BE the weakest link in the tussle to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League, says Gary Neville.

The Reds remain in the Champions League spots at present, with a battling 2-1 victory over Burnley on Sunday cementing a lofty standing.

They have edged five points clear of Arsenal and six ahead of rivals Manchester United, but both teams directly below them in the standings have two games in hand.

There is, therefore, still plenty of work to be done for a side that have impressed against those in and around them this term, but dropped costly points to those in the bottom half.

Neville feels it is those inconsistencies which could cost Jurgen Klopp’s side dear, with two heavyweight outfits set to be left disappointed come May.

He said on the Gary Neville Podcast for Sky Sports: “There are going to be two big clubs and big managers to drop out of that top four.

“You’d have to say, at this moment in time, if every team had the same games towards the end of the season, I think Liverpool could be in trouble.

“They could potentially be the weakest in some ways, but the fact they’ve got a really good run does give them an advantage to get in there. But it’s so tight and it changes week by week.”

On Liverpool’s tendency to struggle against sides that they are expected to beat, Neville added: “We’ve seen some incredible performances from them in big games where teams have come at them and are open and expansive. But when Liverpool play a team who sit back and go into their shape, they don’t seem to have a Plan B.

“This current Liverpool are held back by the fact they haven’t got the strongest squad, but they have been helped this season by the fact they’ve got a good programme.

“They don’t have a Plan B in terms of being able to control the game in a different style, and when teams don’t allow them to use their energy to press they’re far less effective. They have a great chance of getting into the top four, but they do have to overcome this style problem.”

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