Manchester City look ‘unbreakable’ in the Premier League title race, admits Gary Neville

The Sky Sports pundit believes Pep Guardiola's men will not fall victim to complacency because of their manager's intensity

Manchester City are looking “unbreakable” at the top of the Premier League and Pep Guardiola will make sure complacency does not become an issue, according to Manchester United legend Gary Neville.

Saturday’s 4-0 win over West Ham maintained City’s two-point lead over Liverpool at the top of the table, and they have scored 40 goals – 12 more than any other side in the division – on the way to 11 victories in their opening 13 league games.

Many expect Guardiola’s men to go on to defend their Premier League title by a comfortable margin, and Neville sees no reason for the chasing pack to be optimistic of overhauling City as long as they continue to set their own standards.

“Pep doesn't measure a game of football in the same way we do,” Neville told Sky Sports. “4-0, you're patting yourselves on the back in the dressing room after the game, but he sets a standard which is different to everyone else's. Sometimes I think he also wants to send a message to his players that when he sees a little complacency or things that aren't right, he'll stamp on it.

“He won't allow a drop in standard in any way and it's been apparent this season that when they've won a league, there's been a big dip. Every single day until the end of the season, he will make sure that little bit of complacency doesn't creep in at any moment in any game.

Guardiola has led City to 11 wins in their opening 13 games this season (Getty)

“Back-to-back championships is what he's desperate for and what he needs, and what he thinks is right for teams he manages. He knows that will take them from a great achievement last season to a great side. That's what they're looking like at this moment in time.

“He knows there are tougher tests to come where, if they do drop, they will get punished. But at the moment they look unbreakable. It looks like you can't touch them.”

Tottenham’s 3-1 defeat of rivals Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday allowed City and Liverpool to separate themselves a little more from the rest of the teams in the top seven, and for Neville the game underlined what he has suspected about Maurizio Sarri’s team for some time.

“When Man Utd played at Stamford Bridge, there were signs and at West Ham away plus last night, there are a few examples that Chelsea aren't quite at a Premier League title-winning level,” he added. “But no-one expected that of them, and where they are at the moment, a top-four finish would be good for them.

“It's a challenge for Maurizio Sarri and it's a challenge for Chelsea. People won't let Jorginho have 1,000 passes a match, they will get players in and around him. Once you disrupt the rhythm of a team that relies on rhythm, you've broken them.”