Gary Neville makes complete U-turn over assessment of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool

Gary Neville has admitted he was wrong about Liverpool and believes they can go on to have “an incredible season” this year.

The Sky Sports pundit labelled Jurgen Klopp’s men a team in decline not so long ago. The former Manchester United defender said in September: “They are not the team they were two years ago. They are a good team by the way – they will win a lot of games. They’ll go close.”

It was a theory that was picked up by a number of other pundits, including former England boss Fabio Capello.

Only this month the Italian told Sky Sports Italia via the Daily Mirror: “The current Liverpool is not the same side it was a few months ago.”

But ahead of their penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, Neville went back on those comments.

Neville made a complete U-turn and said they could go on and mark an incredible season by winning some significant silverware.

“I thought Liverpool were in decline,” the Sky Sports pundit revealed. “In decline from a very, very high place.

“They were one of the best teams that you’ll see in Premier League a few years ago when they won it.

“What I think they’ve done is dip off that level a little bit, but now it feels like they’re coming back and they could have an incredible season this year.

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Neville picked Reds to win Carabao Cup

“They could go on to win the Premier League, they’re still in the Champions League, they’ve obviously got a trophy to play for today – I think the winner of this trophy today will be in good stead for the rest of the season.”

Klopp’s men bagged their first trophy of the season on Sunday, winning the League Cup for a record ninth time.

Neville, incidentally, did pick the Reds to defeat Chelsea ahead of Sunday’s Wembley date.

“You’d have to say just Liverpool,” Neville admitted. And he was right at Liverpool edged it 11-10 on penalties after a pulsating 0-0 draw.

Klopp’s side are on course for an unprecedented quadruple. They are right in the hunt with Manchester City for the Premier League title.

They face Norwich on Wednesday in the FA Cup fifth round. While they lead Inter Milan 2-0 on aggregate ahead of the Champions League last 16 date next month.

READ MORE: Jamie Carragher: ‘I was the idiot before the game’ doubting Jurgen Klopp