Gary Neville's "devastatingly bad start" warning to Manchester United stars

Manchester United icon Gary Neville has conceded a defeat for the Red Devils at home to Liverpool would mark a "devastatingly bad start" to the league season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United side have enjoyed a relatively comfortable start to the season in terms of standard of opposition - yet languish in sixth eight points adrift of league leaders Chelsea having played a game less.

United's recent form has seen them win just three of their last eight games, two of which have come in the Champions League against Villarreal and Atalanta respectively.

Domestically, the Red Devils have fared particularly poorly in recent weeks, taking just one point from their last three league outings against Aston Villa, Everton and LeicesterCity respectively.

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Man Utd were beaten 4-2 by Leicester City last weekend ( Image:

Action Images via Reuters)

Solskjaer's team welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon in what is the latest contest in a particularly daunting set of upcoming fixtures in which they take on all five other members of the 'big six' before mid-December.

Neville has conceded he fears for his former side before the clash against their fierce rivals.

Speaking as part of Sky Sport's coverage of the game, the ex-United right-back said: "If United sit here at the end of the day eight points behind Chelsea, seven behind Liverpool, six behind City, it would be a devastatingly bad start.

"I think it would be a terrible start to the season. For me, it would be the unthinkable.

Neville does not harbour much optimism in terms of United's title hopes regardless of the result against Liverpool.

"I don't think United can win the title if they win today, so it doesn't change my mind," Neville explained.

Pick your Manchester United starting eleven for the visit of Liverpool below

"But in terms of confidence, it would be a really bad one to go that far behind the three main teams."

His sentiments were echoed by fellow pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who thinks defeat would spell the end of United's title aspirations.

"I think this is a big game for Liverpool because I don't think too many people think Liverpool can win the league," Carragher explained.

Gary Neville thinks defeat at home to Liverpool would mark a "devastatingly bad start" to the season for Man Utd ( Image:

Sky Sports)

"I think people think they're just short of Man City. They've played two of their rivals already, both at home, and haven't quite convinced in those games in terms of their performance. Chelsea had ten men.

"If they come here today and win, go second in the table, people will stand up and notice.

"If Liverpool win is that United out the title race? 100 per-cent that's United out the title race."