---
title: "Liverpool Unable to Match Ambitions of Top Players – Neville"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/liverpool-unable-to-match-ambitions-of-top-players-neville/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Oli Marecar"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2015-05-22T14:45:19Z"
modified: "2015-05-22T14:46:55Z"
---

# Liverpool Unable to Match Ambitions of Top Players – Neville

Gary Neville is the latest ex-player to have his say on the latest happenings at Anfield. In his column with The Telegraph states that in the last 15 years, a key player leaving Liverpool is nothing new and cites Michael Owen, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez as some examples.

“Just look back over the past 10-15 years and count the number of players who have left Anfield to pursue bigger and better things elsewhere. If (Raheem) Sterling leaves, then that will be another star player who has decided that Liverpool is a club that is unable to match their ambitions.”

Neville also believes that the City of Liverpool places a constraint on footballers, unlike Manchester. Something that Sterling may have experienced already.

“When Gerrard was preparing for his final game at Anfield last week, Jamie Carragher told me that whenever Steven goes out in Liverpool he simply cannot escape the attention or go about his business without being aware of the suffocating pressure that comes with being a Liverpool player in the city.”

Neville goes on to compare the number of key players that left his former club Manchester United in that same period with Cristiano Ronaldo being the only player mentioned by him.

“The comparison with United is valid because, regardless of the recent successes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, English football’s biggest, most historic, successful and best supported clubs are Liverpool and Manchester United.”

Another harrowing concern for Liverpool is that they are falling behind European clubs, in terms of commercial value. Neville reckons one of the reasons for this is the failed stadium move to Stanley Park.

“I have lost count of the times Liverpool have unveiled plans for a new stadium at Stanley Park, only to end up staying at Anfield because of the history of the place and the fervour of the Kop. In the early 90s when United made their move, Liverpool should have been on their coat tails.”

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Liverpool as Neville suggests.

“If they can get it right and look beyond the confines and restrictions that lie within their own city, Liverpool can remain one of the world’s most successful football clubs and Sterling and the others that have wanted to leave would be banging on the door to sign for them.”