Liverpool have been warned by one of their former players that two of their current stars “look mentally tired” - but have still been backed to finish in a Champions League spot.
The Reds are currently in 10th place in the Premier League table, after being handed another defeat at the weekend as they were beaten 3-2 by Arsenal. It was a third loss of the campaign in all competitions for Liverpool, and they are now without victory in the league since the end of August.
Up next for Jurgen Klopp’s side is a home clash against reigning champions Manchester City. As things stand, Liverpool are 14 points adrift of top spot and six outside the top four places.
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Former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel has explained why he still backs the Reds to finish in the top four. However, he did say that he thinks two players are looking below their usual standards.
“I would never count out Liverpool in the title race, just with the squad that they have,” Friedel told onlinecasino.ca
“I think two of their players look mentally tired to me–Salah and Van Dijk–which are two of their huge players.
“I actually don’t worry about Liverpool. I grew up as a Liverpool supporter. Jürgen Klopp and his staff are fantastic. The squad he has put together is fantastic.
“For me, they are going to finish in the top four no matter what.
“If they don’t challenge for the title, I think he will get it right and challenge for the title next year.
“I don’t think there is any room for error from now until the end of the season: they can’t drop more points.
“But I still think they have the right guy in charge, so I don't think there should be any added pressure heaped on him.
“They are obviously not getting results right now, but I agree I do not think they played poorly against Arsenal.”
Liverpool have qualified for the Champions League in each of the last six seasons. Friedel has explained why, if that weren’t to happen this year, it would not have a detrimental effect on the club’s transfer dealings next summer.
“Liverpool has done a really good job off the field with their marketing,” said Friedel. “It wasn’t always the way: Manchester United went way ahead of them at one stage a couple of decades ago.
“If they don’t qualify for the Champions League, yes, it will dent their revenues, because they won’t get the television and some sponsorship revenues, nor will they be getting the match day revenues.
“Would it be catastrophic to miss out one year? I don’t think so.
“The people that they have behind the scenes are pretty astute. If you look at the way they run Liverpool, you don’t really see or hear about them, and they run the business impeccably well.
“They have one of the world’s greatest managers and one of the greatest squads, and off the field they are becoming a marketing machine.
“It is a blow to any of these top teams if they don’t finish in the Champions League. If they miss out three, four, five years in a row, then yeah, it will become an issue.”
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