Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man Utd return to top Premier League debut season, says Gary Neville | Football news

Gary Neville explains why this Premier League season is shaping up to be the best ever, Cristiano Ronaldo’s instant impact at Manchester United, compared Thiago’s performance for Liverpool at Leeds to that of ‘Paul Scholes’ and has predicts Chelsea will be hard to stop this season.

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast Following Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Leeds, the Sky Sports expert explained why this season’s Premier League season could be the best in terms of quality and his first thoughts on the title race.

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Neville on … the quality of the Premier League

“In the first half of the Leeds game, I sat down and was amazed by the speed, the quality and the atmosphere. We always tend to look back and say there were more tackles in the ’80s and’ 90s was more real, standing on the terraces. But what I saw in the first four weeks of this season, takes a bit of a hard time in terms of quality. It’s as good as I saw.

“We congratulated the players for being brilliant through Covid last season in difficult times and all the fans had to watch in frustration at home. It was sometimes hopeless with no fans in the stadium. But that’s more that made up for it at the start of this season, it’s a convincing watch. And Ronaldo’s return has put the icing on a very good cake. “

We could have the top four teams around the world right now

Speaking on Monday night football, Neville added: “I don’t think I’ve seen in the history of the Premier League four teams as good as the first four we have now. And I don’t think I’ve seen the Premier League that good in terms of quality.

“We could have the best four teams in the world right now. Liverpool’s first XI, if they can keep that form, is maybe the best XI in the Premier League. And we don’t even talk about Liverpool in the L he City squad are exceptional, Chelsea are strong as you wouldn’t believe, and Man Utd, with the addition of Ronaldo, Sancho and Varane, will be among them.

“We never really had a four-team title race, it could be a huge ding-dong this season. The games we watched are really good, the moods are good, the quality is good, the speed of the game is good. game, athleticism of the players. [What] we’re attending right now is absolutely top notch. “

Neville on … Cristiano Ronaldo’s fever in Manchester

“I walked into Manchester city center on Saturday morning and haven’t seen him so alive in five or 10 years. What he did to the Premier League for interest is exciting, but for the city , he’s absolutely buzzing with excitement – and that was before he even scored the two goals.

“I was in Salford and saw the news he scored. I could only imagine what the atmosphere was like and I spoke to a few people who were there and they said it was out of this world, bouncing like they had never seen him And, Salford scored in the last minute which meant it was the perfect football day. “

Neville on … Liverpool’s title chances and chic Thiago

“Everyone is talking about Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United, Manchester City being champions and Chelsea signing Romelu Lukaku, so it all moved away from Liverpool with people wondering if this team is over the hill or has passed his best level, but it was a very good performance, they did everything they were asked to do.

“This Liverpool midfielder was perhaps not the most athletic or the most mobile – he could have faced Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Naby Keita to equal Leeds. But it was all about composure. recalled how Paul Scholes played at Anfield. There would be a frenzied spell in the game and all of a sudden there would be a little guy in the middle of the field who would step on it and there would be calm and Michael Carrick could do the same. And Thiago did. the same today. Today was an example of what he was hired for. When it’s frantic and desperate, put your footing on the ball and play the pass that opens the game. He did. “

Neville on … Chelsea hard to stop

“There is a feeling about Chelsea. They keep the sheets clean, their striker is guaranteed to score, there is a good midfielder. They will be very difficult to stop. The discussion will be on Manchester. Pep Guardiola, Ronaldo but everyone knows Chelsea are serious. I watched them at Anfield and it was a real performance. It’s a brilliant Premier League. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next few months. We just have to let it develop – everyone will want to try and predict the champions so soon. Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea but Liverpool are really in the game. They are really in the game. “