Gary Neville expects Manchester City to do some summer 'gardening' at the end of the season.

The reigning Premier League champions were hammered 4-2 by derby rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford which saw them drop four points behind their neighbours who occupy third position.

Manuel Pellegrini's City side now find themselves 12 points from league leaders Chelsea which suggests to former United skipper Neville that the upcoming summer needs to be one of change at the Etihad Stadium.

"It's a crossroads for them now, there will definitely going be change at City, whether it's players, the manager, people above. Certainly some players," he said on Sky Sports.

"There are some weeds in the garden and you've got to get them out of the changing room pretty quick. You cannot carry passengers."

The defeat was City's fourth in their past six league fixtures which has their automatic Champions League spot under enormous threat with six matches remaining in the current campaign.