Gary Neville explains why Liverpool won’t win the League
The Reds have secured their place at the top of the Premier League table after a string of brilliant displays during the festive season
A thrilling victory over Newcastle sent Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table on Monday. The Reds are now preparing to start a decisive period without Mohamed Salah, who leaves to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Reds’ brilliant form has surprised Neville, but the former Manchester United star believes that Jurgen Klopp’s rebuilt squad is not ready to claim the EPL trophy.
“They’re not polished yet. They’re not at the peak of their careers where you start to make precise decisions,” Liverpool said of Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz on his podcast.
“There’s an electricity to them but also a frustration that in the final third the last part can go a little bit wrong. You wonder what that’s going to be like without Salah but they owe it to him to get through the next month still in the title, still at the top of the league and still ahead so they can give Salah a chance to come back and have a real go at the title.
“I didn’t think Liverpool would be in a title race and I still don’t think they’ll do it.”
Liverpool will take on Arsenal in an FA Cup clash before hosting Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals next Wednesday.
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Liverpool’s stellar season faces a challenge as Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo head off for international duty, leaving Jurgen Klopp with strategic reshuffling for upcoming crucial matches.
The Reds, currently leading the Premier League standings by three points over Aston Villa, have thrived on Salah’s exceptional form, contributing 14 goals and 8 assists in 20 Premier League appearances.
However, Salah’s absence looms as Egypt gears up for AFCON clashes against Mozambique, Ghana, and Cape Verde, while Endo represents Japan, leaving Liverpool without key players for the FA Cup clash against Arsenal and subsequent fixtures.
Should Egypt advance to the final, Salah’s return to Liverpool might be delayed until at least February 17, aligning with Endo’s potential absence if Japan follows suit in the Asian Cup.
Expressing his whimsical support to his departing players, Klopp quipped,
The Reds have secured their place at the top of the Premier League table after a string of brilliant displays during the festive season.
Liverpool
© Ace Football
Liverpool are not “polished” enough as a team to win the Premier League title this season, according to Gary Neville.
A thrilling victory over Newcastle sent Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table on Monday. The Reds are now preparing to start a decisive period without Mohamed Salah, who leaves to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Liverpool will have to make do without the prolific Mohamed Salah for up to a month and in his absence Jurgen Klopp has several players who can fill in with Dominik Szoboszlai among them
Mohamed Salah said goodbye to Liverpool for a month by scoring a brace in their win over Newcastle.
The Egyptian scored two of their four as they blew away the Magpies at Anfield to open up a lead at the top of the Premier League. Salah, as he’s been throughout his time on Merseyside, is the Reds’ leading marksman and his goals will be missed whilst he’s at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Whilst Salah is absent, Liverpool will look to stay at the summit, see off Arsenal in the FA Cup and put themselves into the Carabao Cup final. His contributions in the final third leave a major hole that will need to be filled temporarily.
Jurgen Klopp has continued to recycle his attacking options with Salah his only regular. Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota have all been utilised, but the Egyptian’s absence could open the door for a player to show their versatility.
“It will be very interesting to see who he puts in that position,” Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. “An option could be Harvey Elliott. I think he is more of a midfield player, he lacks pace to play in the front three but he could do it. But also Szoboszlai. Liverpool have got a lot of midfield options now with Alexis Mac Allister back, Szoboszlai has played in that position for his former club.”
We take a look at both options as well as a fringe player who could get the chance to impress with the games coming thick and fast. Ben Doak would’ve fancied his chances of more minutes but injury has put pay to that.
Harvey Elliott
For years the youngster has been tipped for the top and he’s shown that in patches. The teenager has featured in 16 of Liverpool’s 20 league outings, coming up with two assists and a goal. Klopp has long shown faith in Elliott, who has regularly been used in midfield.
Harvey Elliott is highly thought of at Anfield
Harvey Elliott is highly thought of at Anfield
Earlier in his Liverpool days the former Fulham man was used out wide and showed how influential he can be during a previous loan spell at Blackburn Rovers. His creativity is well documented, but he lacks the pace of some of his team-mates and he may require the team to play differently if he is to thrive.
Dominik Szoboszlai
The Hungarian has been hugely influential since his summer move from RB Leipzig and could be asked to play from a wide role over the next month. Like Elliott he doesn’t have the pace of some of Liverpool’s other attackers, but his impact on games has already been highlighted.
Dominik Szoboszlai has had an instant impact since his summer move
Dominik Szoboszlai has had an instant impact since his summer move
Szoboszlai’s eye for goal has seen him score four times but he did limp off in the win over Newcastle, leaving Klopp sweating on his fitness, although he hoped it was only a minor issue. Szoboszlai has played in a wide role at Leipzig and may be fancied to step up ahead of Elliott.
Fabio Carvalho
Extremely left-field but Klopp has been more than willing to put faith in individuals throughout his tenure. Carvalho was a huge hit with Fulham in the Championship, which convinced Liverpool to pursue him 18 months ago. His first season came and went and he’s recently been recalled from a loan spell in Germany, which didn’t go as planned.
Fabio Carvalho has just returned from an unsuccessful loan spell
Fabio Carvalho has just returned from an unsuccessful loan spell
His potential remains obvious though and, with Carvalho clearly in need of minutes, Salah’s absence could be the chance to give them to him, especially with games coming thick and fast across several tournaments. In his most productive season he scored ten times and provided eight assists. He’s certainly a player the Reds should persevere with.
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“They’re not polished yet. They’re not at the peak of their careers where you start to make precise decisions,” Liverpool said of Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz on his podcast.
“There’s an electricity to them but also a frustration that in the final third the last part can go a little bit wrong. You wonder what that’s going to be like without Salah but they owe it to him to get through the next month still in the title, still at the top of the league and still ahead so they can give Salah a chance to come back and have a real go at the title.
“I didn’t think Liverpool would be in a title race and I still don’t think they’ll do it.”
Liverpool will take on Arsenal in an FA Cup clash before hosting Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals next Wednesday.
Latest entertainment gist
Liverpool’s stellar season faces a challenge as Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo head off for international duty, leaving Jurgen Klopp with strategic reshuffling for upcoming crucial matches.
The Reds, currently leading the Premier League standings by three points over Aston Villa, have thrived on Salah’s exceptional form, contributing 14 goals and 8 assists in 20 Premier League appearances.
However, Salah’s absence looms as Egypt gears up for AFCON clashes against Mozambique, Ghana, and Cape Verde, while Endo represents Japan, leaving Liverpool without key players for the FA Cup clash against Arsenal and subsequent fixtures.
Should Egypt advance to the final, Salah’s return to Liverpool might be delayed until at least February 17, aligning with Endo’s potential absence if Japan follows suit in the Asian Cup.
Expressing his whimsical support to his departing players, Klopp quipped,
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