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Liverpool news: Gary Neville makes Mohamed Salah claim about Reds’ Champions League hopes
LIVERPOOL should forget about winning the Champions League because of the effect it will have on Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Those are the thoughts of Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who thinks the Premier League title is a more realistic ambition.
Liverpool reached the European Cup final last term thanks to the exploits of their dynamic front three, but Real Madrid proved a bridge too far as they lost 3-1 in Kiev.
Jurgen Klopp is still looking to land his first piece of silverware at Anfield, but his side have made a fantastic start in the league, winning all four of their matches.
Neville thinks the Reds will be able to have a clear run at the title if they drop out after group stages.
The Champions League — if I was Liverpool, I would kick it into touch
Otherwise, he believes the demands of the competition could prove too much for Klopp’s attacking trio.
“The Champions League — if I was Liverpool, I would kick it into touch,” Neville told The Times.
“I know that’s very hard to do but if they could go into February, March, April without it, I think they could have a real chance if they had free weeks.
“Why? I think their method is exhausting for the front three [Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino].
“The drop in quality below them, if there are injuries or playing Wednesday, Saturday, I think it will take its toll.”
Neville, who has close links with Manchester United, has admitted he is worried about how well Liverpool are playing.
He added: “As a United fan, I am very concerned about them. This front three have always been fantastic and now the midfield can run, it can pass, it has depth. And the back four looks a unit.
“The football they are playing under Jurgen Klopp, it’s fantastic.
“As a United fan, that’s a worry because it is still that mentality of ‘anyone but them’.
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“Same for them, anyone but us. That’s not ‘Gary Neville he’s a Red, he hates Scousers’. Those days have gone. I am more thoughtful now.
“But it’s a worry. I got a glimpse a few years ago when Brendan Rodgers was going for it, thousands lining the streets, the fireworks before a game.
“I thought then, ‘Imagine if they win this.’ I was turning up at Anfield three hours early because I couldn’t get into the ground otherwise.”
Liverpool will be looking to maintain their perfect start to the campaign away to Tottenham on Saturday (12.30pm).