Gary Neville: Liverpool the Real Winners of Arsenal vs Man City Stalemate

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes Liverpool emerged as the biggest winners from Sunday’s 1-1 draw between Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League.

The highly anticipated clash saw Erling Haaland give City the lead before Gabriel Martinelli struck late to rescue a point for the Gunners at the Emirates.

The result means Arsenal now sit five points behind league leaders Liverpool, with Pep Guardiola’s side also losing valuable ground in the title race.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said Guardiola may have chosen to defend too early in the contest:

“Guardiola shrugs his shoulders – he decided 25-30 minutes out from the end of the game how he was going to win it and he got so close. But credit to Arsenal, Eze and Martinelli for that bit of brilliance at the end, but those blue shirts will be disappointed. It was a bit of a slugfest of a game, a real struggle that will not help either of them and Liverpool may be the winners.”

Opinion: Liverpool Smiling as Rivals Cancel Each Other Out

In a title race as tight as this one, dropped points are as costly as defeats. Arsenal and Manchester City gave football fans an intense but cagey spectacle—yet neither walked away with the prize they truly wanted.

Instead, it is Liverpool who quietly strengthen their position at the summit. Jürgen Klopp’s men have been relentless this season, grinding out wins and showing resilience when it matters most. With Arsenal and City locked in battle, Liverpool now enjoy not just a points advantage, but also the psychological edge of seeing their two closest rivals falter.

Of course, the race is far from over. Arsenal showed spirit with Martinelli’s late strike, while City remain a side capable of stringing together unstoppable runs. But for now, the momentum swings Anfield’s way—and Neville may just be right: Liverpool are the real winners of Sunday’s clash.