John Giles is tipping Liverpool to get the better of Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
John joined us as always on a Thursday to preview the match which will be broadcast live on Off The Ball, and feels Liverpool are in a much better place since the last meeting between the two clubs.
"There's certainly more consistency about them at the moment than there is about Manchester United. Liverpool have made much greater strides than United since [the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford]. United have won matches but they haven't played well and I think Arsenal exposed them last week. There's more consistency about the Liverpool team, certainly a good spirit, good work ethic and a better structure about them so I would fancy Liverpool to do them on the weekend," he said, adding that Brendan Rodgers would do even better if he didn't "talk too much".
John also turned his attention to Manchester City who were dumped out of Europe last night. The Sky Blues' age profile has been under scrutiny, but he thinks a lack of drive among the squad is the main issue.
"I don't think it's a question of age, it's a question of attitude. They don't have the drive to do it," he said, describing Samir Nasri as a "disgrace" against Barcelona and questioning Yaya Toure's consistency.
John also disagreed with Arsene Wenger's calls for a change to the away goals rule in knockout ties, and feels that the Arsenal manager is inching towards the end of his long tenure at the club.
"There comes a time for every manager where it's the crowd who ultimately become disenchanted and get the managers the sack and I think the Arsenal crowd would be fairly close to that now," he said.
John also lauded Lionel Messi and although he regards the Barcelona attacker as the best in the world as present, said he was "reluctant" to say he was the greatest ever, even if he is among the all-time greats of the game.
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