Have the mind games started already? Brazil superstar Neymar has predicted that Champions League opponents Liverpool will finish outside the Premier League's top four this season.
PSG are set to meet the Merseyside club (along with Napoil and Red Star Belgrade) in the group stage of Europe's elite club competition, and it is clear that he does not rate Jürgen Klopp's men all that highly.
Speaking to the Daily Express, he was quizzed about who he thought would win the Premier League, having this to say:
Who will in it? Woah, that’s difficult. It’s very hard, it’s very difficult, but Manchester City will win it...
Second will be United, third is Chelsea. Fourth is Tottenham.
When pushed about his selections, he went on to confirm "no Liverpool".
With the vast majority of onlookers tipping Manchester City to retain their title, Neymar's backing of the team makes sense. The City side also includes his Brazil international teammates Fernandinho, Ederson and Gabriel Jesus.
However, with the season still in its infancy, it is looking like Liverpool are the most likely to challenge Pep Guardiola's team.
They sit atop the Preimer League having gained maximum points from their opening four fixtures, which makes this prediction all the puzzling.
This may be some early mind games on behalf of the Brazilian, with PSG hoping the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as manager can allow them to finally make an impact in Europe this year.
For Liverpool, the comments may point to the attitude that is still held towards the club by some on the continent. Many feel that the club were not given the credit they deserve for their run to the Champions League final last season, and Neymar's attitude may be representative of this sentiment.
The two sides will meet at Anfield on September 18th, with the return fixture in the Parc des Princes on the 28th of October.
Hopefully this can add a little bit of extra spice to what is already looking like a mouth-watering group.
