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The narrative can change very quickly in soccer.
Not long ago, Liverpool were criticized for their apparent inertia in the transfer market. Detractors said they weren’t doing the business necessary to defend their Premier League title.
Then he signed Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota in the space of a few days, beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and everything was fine again.
Short-term reactive opinions are the norm now, and assertions often seem to be made with the intention of capturing as much attention as possible.
Sometimes, however, it is simply a case of people getting carried away.
That’s what must have happened earlier this month when, perhaps a bit jokingly, Gary Neville predicted that Manchester United would finish ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League this season.
“I’m going to Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, but that’s with a little hope instead of science!” he said Astro Stadium when asked for his top four predictions.
Of course, Neville was aware of his own optimism, hence the “hope more than science” warning. Still, it is proof of how consensus can be formed in a short period of time, based on little more than reactionary reactions on social media.
United were, towards the end of last season, the team to watch. With Bruno Fernandes making them work they looked good and made a late push to third place.
But this was not sustained and the type of emotion it generated was disproportionate to reality. United’s summer has been uneventful, despite incessant rumors of a play by Jadon Sancho, and they were convincingly defeated by Crystal Palace in their first game of the season.
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In reality, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team is still a bit behind Liverpool, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise. There was no transformative post-lockdown process to close the gap. United just had a good run of form while Liverpool slowed down with the title already secured.
Neville now, two weeks into the new season, has changed his mind. His former club, he says, must be more proactive and smart in the transfer market, like Liverpool. Reds are, according to Neville, “sharp” and “precise.”
“You see Liverpool get a player for £ 40 million, £ 25 million, you see other clubs do it, Werner is quite cheap compared to some of the player prices you see on the market and United always seems to have to pay. the best price and the club people will not like that, almost as if they were easy prey, “he said. Sky sports.
“There really is no excuse for not making your transfers before the start of the season. They need four or five players, so to do just one … I know Liverpool have only made theirs in the last few days, but there is a feeling that they are in control.
Within a few weeks, United could have won five games in a row and changed the narrative again. This is how modern football works.
However, whatever happens this year, the chances of Solskjaer’s side finishing ahead of Liverpool seem slim.
Neville might have to adjust that prediction soon.
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