Gary Neville claims that “one thing shouldn’t be proper” at Manchester Metropolis this season amid their loss to Tottenham on Tremendous Sunday, and that Pep Guardiola’s aspect is “not as sturdy” as earlier than.

Spurs received 1-0 because of Harry Kane’s first-half aim as Metropolis missed an opportunity to shut the hole on Premier League leaders Arsenal, who misplaced 1-0 to Everton on Saturday.

Neville cited Metropolis’s efficiency after they misplaced 2-0 to Tottenham within the residence sport final month when describing Guardiola’s group, hinting that the Spaniard “acquired it incorrect” in north London this weekend.

“I bear in mind when Tottenham received 2-0 on the Etihad and I mentioned Pep Guardiola was enjoying and enjoying a bit a couple of weeks in the past,” Neville mentioned whereas in sky sports activities obligation of co-comment.

“I felt the identical as we speak after I noticed that the squad sheet arrived with out Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte nonetheless on the bench.

“You possibly can by no means write Manchester Metropolis off. It is virtually embarrassing that you just generally sit right here saying Guardiola was incorrect, particularly when he proves himself proper as many occasions as he did a couple of weeks in the past.”

“However one thing shouldn’t be proper at Man Metropolis. It simply feels a bit unusual for the time being.”

The pundit then advised the Gary Neville Podcast that he’s much less assured Metropolis will win the title this season, after predicting Guardiola’s aspect will beat leaders Arsenal for the title in latest weeks.

“Two or three weeks in the past I used to be requested who I believed would win the league and I mentioned Manchester Metropolis. And I’ve mentioned that a few occasions since,” Neville mentioned.

“Arsenal followers have been up in arms as a result of they suppose I am not respecting them. However on Saturday when Arsenal misplaced, and I mentioned this earlier than the sport, I am much less certain about Metropolis due to what occurred final week.

“The Cancelo incident, De Bruyne’s departure, Dias and Laporte are nonetheless caught on the bench, Gundogan is on the bench as we speak, all of it feels a bit unusual.

“Pep Guardiola is a genius and this can be a second in time, however it isn’t with out criticism. This can be a very unusual interval when it comes to what is going on.”

They aren’t proper. That was not a Pep Guardiola efficiency. There have been occasions after I’ve seen their groups lose and I believe: ‘That is a efficiency by Pep Guardiola.’

“The variety of occasions they have been counterattacked as we speak, the variety of occasions they broke by, the quantity of area they gave up in midfield, that does not occur. They needed to cost in the direction of their very own aim. That is as a result of they don’t seem to be proper.

Haaland’s night to neglect

It was not a great night time for Erling Haaland, who not solely completed the sport at Tottenham with out a shot on aim, however was additionally unable to the touch the ball within the Spurs penalty space.

It was the primary sport by which Haaland didn’t take a shot in Metropolis colors, and solely the second Metropolis sport by which he didn’t contact the ball within the field.

Evaluate that to Harry Kane, who completed the night time with 10 touches within the Metropolis field, together with one aim.

The striker, who has scored 25 objectives in 20 Premier League video games this season, “shouldn’t be getting the service he deserves”, in accordance with Neville.

Carra: Not the Metropolis of yesteryear

It was Metropolis’s third successive defeat away from residence, the primary time the membership had achieved that feat since 2016, following losses to Southampton within the Carabao Cup quarter-final and Manchester Derby defeat at United.

sky sports activities Pundit Jamie Carragher believes Metropolis are “not themselves” this season, and that the lengthy profitable streak the membership is able to reaching could not come.

“We’re ready for Metropolis to get into motion with the Metropolis we all know so nicely and this could possibly be the season the place they don’t seem to be themselves, for a lot of completely different causes,” he mentioned. “It isn’t the Manchester Metropolis of yesteryear.”

And talking of Haaland’s woes at Tottenham, Carragher believes the Norwegian striker could have picked the incorrect membership to enhance his sport, regardless of his goal-packed begin in Manchester.

“I believe we have solely seen 60 p.c of Erling Haaland,” Carragher mentioned. “You consider the aim he scored in opposition to West Ham when there was area behind and he got here in behind. I do know he isn’t at all times there due to the way in which Metropolis play.”

“He comes from a counter-attacking league the place he is by and thru. You noticed his breakneck tempo there, we do not see it right here. He might need picked the incorrect membership to get the most effective of him.”

“We aren’t seeing every little thing from Haaland. Metropolis have scored the precise variety of objectives. They’ve 25 of them, however Metropolis have usually scored the identical quantity general. Nonetheless, they’ve conceded extra and at the moment are simpler to counterattack.” . .

“They’re a distinct group, and a smaller one, with Haaland within the group. That isn’t their fault. Metropolis is not going to play end-to-end soccer. That isn’t Pep Guardiola’s model. His gamers don’t have the power or the facility to play that manner – slowly construct up and push the opposition again into your field and play from there.

“Once they lose it, they get it again rapidly and hold the group immobilized. Haaland has scored 25 league objectives and lots of them are those that go into the field and he places them in, however we’re not seeing the entire package deal of what the participant can do for the group he is joined.”