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Michael Owen identifies the sole team capable of preventing Liverpool from winning the title

Liverpool are heavy favourites to win the Premier League this season, and former Reds star Michael Owen has identified the “only danger” to their title hopes.

Owen believes Arsenal pose the “only danger” to Liverpool’s challenge for the Premier League title.

Currently, Liverpool lead the table by seven points, having only lost once this season under their new manager, Arne Slot. Arsenal are in fourth place but could move up to second if they defeat Ipswich at the Emirates tonight.

This would bring them to within six points of Liverpool, who still have a game in hand. Owen, however, sees them as the only team with a realistic chance to threaten Liverpool’s lead. He does acknowledge, though, that Liverpool are “streaking clear” of the competition and says he would be “astonished” if they failed to win the league.

“They’re [Liverpool] absolutely loving it aren’t they, you can only imagine that dressing room,” Owen said to Premier League Productions after Liverpool’s 3-1 comeback victory over Leicester on Boxing Day.

“People will say, they [Liverpool] will come out and say, ‘we don’t look at other teams, we just concentrate on ourselves,’ and they’re right to do that. They are concentrating on themselves, and they are motoring along really well.

“But everyone around them is falling away at the same time—Chelsea lost today, Manchester City dropped points again, and they’re probably out of it now. When I look at the league table, I’d be astonished if Liverpool don’t go on to win it now.

“I think their only danger could be Arsenal. I don’t fancy Chelsea, I think they are too young, too inexperienced. Forest are having a great season but they can’t sustain that. Newcastle are too far behind, even though they are coming into good form at the moment. Bournemouth can’t challenge either.

“For me, it’s Arsenal and Arsenal only in terms of danger to them [Liverpool]. But I think they’re only a danger to themselves, the way they are playing, unless they implode themselves, unless they have a Manchester City moment, it looks like they’re streaking clear.”

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“He will depart and I’m certain” – Transfer expert reveals major Liverpool update

Liverpool have undergone a complete transformation under Arne Slot this season. They are currently at the top of both the Premier League and Champions League standings, seemingly unstoppable.

Key players such as Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil Van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all been performing excellently, with each of them reaching new heights under the Dutch manager’s guidance.

However, one player has drawn criticism from fans for his performances this season. Darwin Nunez has scored just two goals in 11 Premier League matches, a disappointing return for a striker playing in a team challenging for titles.

Transfer expert David Lynch believes that Nunez is likely to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. He shared his thoughts with Sports Mole:

“It’s essentially settled now. I just don’t think there’s a debate there around Nunez. I think the die’s cast now. I think Nunez is what he is – two-and-a-half seasons in now, he hasn’t lived up to expectations, so the job is now to get the best out of him that you can between now and the end of the season, and then he will leave and I’m sure he’ll find somewhere else where [he will] fit better and [be] more appreciated.”

“It’s not been a very good signing, but as I say, it’s just important now to refocus on what he can do and what he can contribute between now and May.”

Liverpool require additional goals from Darwin Nunez

Liverpool need more goals from Nunez, as while his work rate has been commendable, his finishing has been a significant concern for the team.

His lack of awareness in front of goal and failure to capitalize on chances has cost Liverpool points this season, especially in the recent match against Newcastle United.

To address this, Liverpool are reportedly considering Brighton’s Joao Pedro as a potential replacement for Nunez next year, with Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram also catching the club’s attention.

For Liverpool to reach the next level, they need a more prolific goal-scorer in their attack.

December 27, 2024
Michael Owen and Jermain Defoe agree on Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker left Anfield amazed with his stunning goal against Bournemouth on Saturday, marking his first start of the season under new manager Arne Slot.

Darwin Nunez netted a fantastic goal during the match, and Premier League legends Michael Owen and Jermain Defoe could only watch in admiration as he executed a remarkable strike in Liverpool’s victory.

After being included in the starting lineup for the first time this season, Nunez rewarded Slot’s trust in the 37th minute with a breathtaking goal that had the majority of Anfield on their feet and effectively secured Liverpool’s 3-0 win before halftime.

He cut in from the right after a tidy one-two with Mohamed Salah and unleashed a powerful, curling shot with his weaker foot into the far left corner of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal.

At 25, Nunez is known for scoring spectacular goals, and this one ranks among his finest and Anfield’s. It was so impressive that club legend Owen and former England striker Defoe both praised the Uruguayan.

Speaking with Premier League Productions at halftime, Owen remarked, “Absolutely sublime, I like that. What a finish.” Defoe added, “It’s an unbelievable finish. That too on his weak foot.”

Following the goal, Nunez was visibly emotional, shedding tears as he celebrated his first goal for Liverpool since their 3-1 victory over Sheffield United in April, clearly showing the relief of breaking his scoring drought.

The former Benfica star had netted 20 goals in 68 appearances before Saturday’s match and faced significant criticism for his finishing. His emotional response underscored how much the goal meant to him.

Owen noted, “I think he’s a bit of a confidence player, I think he needs to be loved. The fans absolutely love him at Anfield; he’s a cult hero in many ways, and he does the unexpected, as we saw with that goal.

“He can miss a couple of easy chances, but give him a hard chance and he tends to take it. Quite a strange type of player from that point of view, but there was no denying that quality of that goal.”

September 24, 2024
Michael Owen reveals to Arne Slot which two players Liverpool needs to win the title next season

Arne Slot’s move to Anfield may mean a hectic summer ahead for Liverpool. Michael Owen, a former striker, is aware that the Dutchman needs two players.

Michael Owen thinks that if Liverpool wants to win the Premier League the following season, it has to hold onto its two seasoned players, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

After Arne Slot was formally introduced as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement, the Reds heralded a new era on Merseyside. The Dutchman took over from the departing manager who had achieved everything on the peninsula.

Liverpool’s roster will be altered due to the arrival of a new manager at Anfield. While it’s unclear who might be offloaded, former Reds striker Michael Owen has informed Slot that Liverpool needs to hang onto Salah and van Dijk if it hopes to win the Premier League the next year.

Owen advised AceOdds, “You’ve got to keep the difference makers.” “You must identify factors that set you apart. It is likely that Liverpool have three or four players who make the difference between a mediocre and a brilliant team.

And all teams are identical. There are going to be great players, decent players, and then the very best, and Virgil Van Dijk is the very best. “Mo Salah is the pinnacle of the top in his role.

They won’t win the league the next year if you cut them both from the squad. They really are that significant. Unless, of course, you swap them out with players of comparable calibre. Therefore, yes, I would really like to see Mo Salah and Van Dijk stay together.

With van Dijk, Liverpool is not likely to consider any kind of trade; but, the same cannot be said for Salah. Al-Ittihad of the Saudi Pro League put Liverpool’s resolve to the test last summer when they made an incredible $269 million (£215 million/€253 million) offer for the Egyptian’s services.

In the end, Liverpool was unable to let go of Salah because the proposed Saudi Arabian transaction was made too late in the transfer window. Salah’s goals were considered invaluable even though Liverpool had made significant investments in the past several seasons, especially considering that they had little time left at the end of the transfer window to even search for a successor.

But perhaps things will be different this time. In the event that Salah wishes to leave and the Saudi Pro League approaches again with numbers even somewhat nearing their 2023 summer bid, the Reds will probably sell the Egyptian and use their war chest to sign a successor.

June 29, 2024
Arne Slot hijacks Inter Milan’s bid for the Brazil international, as Liverpool drops a transfer hint.

Our thoughts on the most recent transfer rumours and Liverpool rumours as Arne Slot gets ready for a hectic summer

This summer, Liverpool may lose Caoimhin Kelleher or Alisson. While the latter hasn’t been shy about expressing his goal to be number one, the former has recently been connected to a move to Saudi Arabia.

Arne Slot seems keen to expand his alternatives between the sticks now that Adrian is now off the books. It might be challenging to replace the Spaniard, though, as a third-choice custodian is aware that playing time may be limited.

However, if rumours are to be believed, the Reds may prioritise finding a new custodian. Having said that, the ECHO has compiled the most recent rumours and reports about transfers involving Liverpool.

Liverpool wants a new goalkeeper.

Alisson or Caoimhin Kelleher’s replacement appears to have been found by Liverpool. The Reds have reportedly entered the competition to sign Athletico Paranaense goalkeeper Bento this summer, according to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte.

According to the story, the 25-year-old had ‘dreamed’ of playing for Inter Milan, who have expressed ‘strong interest’. According to Globo Esporte, the Italian powerhouses offered Bento €15 million (£12.7 million), but the Brazilian team turned down their deal.

Inter is rumoured to have shifted their focus to Genoa goalkeeper Josep Martínez, which leaves Liverpool with plenty of room to finalise a deal. At Wembley Stadium in March, Brazil easily defeated England 1-0 thanks to the performance of Bento in goal.

The ECHO states: “I think it’s highly unlikely that Liverpool is looking to replace Adrian with Bento, but it’s not impossible.” I would guess that the Athletico Paranaense custodian replaces Caoimhin Kelleher, at the very least, if the Reds were to sign him. Let’s investigate.”

Liverpool’s top summer priorities disclosed

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk should be signed to new, long-term contracts by Liverpool, according to Michael Owen. Their present contracts end in June 2025, which raises questions about whether they will still be at Anfield.

“It all depends on what terms and things like that, doesn’t it,” Owen stated to DAZN. “There are always those fans who are so incredibly needy that they say, ‘Just give them whatever they want, out there who a,’ and naturally, I don’t think that.

However, you must maintain the differentiators. You must identify factors that set you apart. It is likely that Liverpool have three or four players who make the difference between a mediocre and a brilliant team. Every squad is the same, too.

“Virgil Van Dijk is the ultimate elite; there will be good players, great players, and then there’s just the absolute elite.” Mo Salah is the pinnacle of his profession. They won’t win the league the next year if you cut them both from the squad.

“They really are that significant. Unless, of course, you swap them out with players of comparable calibre. Thus, sure, I would really like to see Mo Salah and Van Dijk stay together.

They don’t appear to be getting older, other from the fact that we all age every single day. However, their performance shows no indication of ageing. Yes, I would like for Liverpool to have both of those guys in their lineup going forward.”

The ECHO states: “Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold must all sign new contracts before Arne Slots brings any new players to Anfield.” The Reds’ most significant summertime transaction, arguably.”

June 29, 2024
Following ‘significant’ developments at Liverpool, Michael Owen predicts the Premier League title.

At the top of the Premier League standings, Liverpool is leading title rivals Manchester City by a tiny margin. Former Reds great Michael Owen has shared his thoughts.

Although he isn’t discounting his former team Liverpool, Michael Owen has remained true to his preseason forecast that Manchester City will win the Premier League.

With the addition of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool entered the season with a revamped midfield. Following the departure of numerous senior talents, including Fabinho, James Milner, and Jordan Henderson from Anfield, came the summer spending binge.

Despite reaching the midway point of the season, Jurgen Klopp’s team remains at the top of the standings. Although the new midfielders have contributed, the academy has also been a big aid, as seen by Curtis Jones’s success in midfield and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s sporadic transition into a more advanced role.

At a screening of his new documentary, “Football is for Everyone,” Owen said to Mirror Football, “If you’re asking me who I think will win it, I think Manchester City will win it.” Although I’ve been really impressed with Liverpool, I didn’t want to necessarily change my mind from when I first thought so at the beginning of the season.

Since they are now leading the league and we have already passed halfway, they can obviously win. The entire midfield has completely changed, and I’ve been really impressed with how the team has evolved. They’ve won despite acclimating to new players, a new system, and other changes, which is encouraging because I see the team continuing to get stronger.

“I don’t believe the final score will be the same as it has been in previous years. Instead of getting a nine this year, I believe you’ll win it with an eight last time. It will be a closer title race since City will need to give up some ground on their season’s total points and Liverpool will need to step up their play, but both of those things appear to be happening right now.”

As Liverpool leads the defending champions City by two points after 20 league games, Alexander-Arnold has participated in 18 of them. Jones has made 12 appearances, and center-back Jarell Quansah has made six.

After coming from Fulham at the age of sixteen, Harvey Elliott has made 16 appearances of his own and, in December, he scored a crucial winner against Crystal Palace off the bench.

“I think some of the great teams over the years, I think you’d suggest an academy influence and a homegrown influence is very important,” Owen stated. “When I was growing up, the fantastic Manchester United club was essentially an academy-based squad. The list of players on the team I spent so many years with includes Fowler, McManaman, Gerrard, Carragher, and many others.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been a part of Liverpool for a long time, is the kind of guy that successful teams frequently have, and I believe it’s fantastic for the team. It’s good to see that fans find that enjoyable and relatable. Furthermore, they have a valuable role to perform on the team and are more than just squad players.”

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Jurgen Klopp signs his first January deal, confirming Liverpool transfer

After being recalled from RB Leipzig earlier this month, midfielder Fabio Carvalho has joined HullCity on loan, according to confirmation from Liverpool.

The completion of Fabio Carvalho’s loan move to Hull City has been announced by Liverpool.

For the duration of the season, the 21-year-old midfielder is a temporary member of the Tigers’ team. After making three starts in 15 games during his time at RB Leipzig, Carvalho was recently called back by the Reds as they searched for a team where he could play regularly.

Carvalho has played in the Championship before; during the 2021–2022 season, he scored 18 goals in 36 league appearances for Fulham, which persuaded the team to sign the youthful midfield player. Tyler Morton, another Liverpool loanee, will join him at Hull.

The offensive midfielder, who was a member of Liverpool’s first team squad and made 22 appearances in his rookie season before slipping down the roster, will be trying to make an impression on Jurgen Klopp from a distance. The Tigers are now one spot off of the play-off spots from Hull’s viewpoint, therefore manager Liam Rosenior will be hoping Carvalho can aid in the team’s bid for promotion.

Rosenior stated on Hull City’s official website, “Fábio is excited to be coming here and I’m delighted to be working with him until the end of the season.” Technically, he is excellent. He can run in behind, score, and assist. He is bold, agile, well-balanced, and adept at taking the ball.

“Liverpool has seen the work we’ve done with Tyler Morton, so they can see how much potential he has. I can’t thank them enough for their trust.” Fábio has the capacity to significantly influence our season and lead us to our desired outcome.

January 18, 2024
Five experts predict where Liverpool will end up in the Premier League this season

Liverpool start their Premier League season with a game against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon

The new Premier League season is upon us and promises to be an exciting year for Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will try to recover from a poor year but will face competition from a number of top clubs in the 2023/24 season.

Midfield is likely to be a key area for the Reds on their way back to the top and the additions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai give hope that this position can turn from a problematic position into a strong. However, further additions may be needed for this view to be fully applicable to this division.

Predicting where this Liverpool side will end up is no easy task, although various pundits have given their opinion on how they view the outcome of the game. Below we’ve rounded up the verdicts of five former Premier League stars.

Michael Owen (3rd)

Michael Owen sees the Reds returning to elite European competition for 2023/24, although he remains cautious. Klopp’s men are moving away from the principles that have driven the club to success in recent times.

Owen took to Twitter to clarify his options, writing: “I have picked Liverpool and Manchester United to finish third and fourth but both have questions to answer. Neither were visually impressive last season.

“Liverpool have a new midfield. It is also likely they will continue to copy City and Arsenal (City have now moved) using at times a full-back to fill in midfield. [Could] work, but I loved old Liverpool – relentless drive from attack, creative full-backs etc. I’m nervous that they’re walking away from something that got them to the top.

United followed the recent trend and bought a ball playing GK. Seems like a great buy. On the other hand, they occupied an important post which they demanded. If Hojlund is successful, they could be in business.”

Danny Murphy (3rd)

Echoing Michael Owen’s comments, former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy also helped the Reds finish ahead of United in third place. In the Daily Mail, he writes:

“I wish Liverpool could do that, but they have to replace Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in midfield. They’ve been the bedrock of Jurgen Klopp’s side with legs in the middle of the park for years, so I can imagine adding more. one or two more.” That.

“Alexis Mac Allister is a great addition and gives them something different as Curtis Jones becomes a permanent member of the team.” Southampton’s Romeo Lavia would make perfect sense.

“United have done good business with Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund and the arrival of a ball-playing goalkeeper like Andre Onana will change the way they play and control matches, especially away from home.”

Dimitar Berbatov (outside the top four):

The former United forward believes Liverpool will drop out of the top four for a second successive season as the race for European football gets underway. The Bulgarian shared his thoughts on the upcoming campaign, telling Betfair:

“The competition for the top four is why the Premier League is so beautiful to watch. Teams like Aston Villa, Newcastle, Brighton and Tottenham can compete for it. Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea will be in the top four. “If Manchester United don’t get into the top four then it’s a terrible season. I think Arsenal will also get into the top four, they have to push for the title and not settle for second place like last season.” I’m not counting Liverpool, Tottenham or Newcastle.”

Peter Crouch (3rd)

Ex-Reds striker Peter Crouch blasted the Reds down to finish third, with City and Arsenal in first and second and United in fourth.

Elsewhere in his season forecast for TNT Sports, Crouch’s picks suggest he expects a dominant season for Pep Guardiola’s side. He backed Erling Haaland to claim the Golden Boot for the second consecutive season, Kevin De Bruyne to win Player of the Season and Pep Guardiola to be crowned Manager of the Season. Rio Ferdinand (4th):

Rio Ferdinand (4th):

The former Manchester United central defender moved Liverpool to fourth in the standings, behind Arsenal (3rd), United (2nd) and City (1st). He explained to TNT Sports why he thinks his teams, chosen in second and third place, are in a better position to clinch the title: “I think Man United and Arsenal are the two guys I consider difficult. If anyone one can reach them [Man City], it will be those two.

“I still think there is a gap between Man United and Man City on and off the pitch, but Manchester United are moving in the right direction. Arsenal have signed well in this window, three players who will definitely improve the team and the starting XI, and I think they will be close this season.”

August 10, 2023