Ex-Arsenal and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna doesn’t believe Liverpool will win the Premier League title this season.
The Reds sit 5 points clear at the top of the table after 21 games but, speaking to Paddy Power, Sagna said that Jurgen Klopp’s side may have to settle for a “top three” finish:
“Liverpool are doing better in the past few years, they are playing great, and they won the Champions League. Players left so they had to rebuild, and rebuilding after that squad took some time and doesn’t happen overnight I think they will finish in the top three – I don’t think they will win the league, but I still think they will have a good season.”
“Mo Salah is another piece of the team that will be missing, and it will be interesting to see how they will do in the next games. It depends on who will replace Salah – they need more players, like Darwin Nuñez, to step up and replace him. Salah is human, so the other players need to step up and score – the next few games will be important.”
We will know more about Liverpool’s title credentials after their next two fixtures
After facing Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, and taking on Norwich in the FA Cup, Klopp’s men have two important league games to play.
They host Chelsea at Anfield next week before travelling to the Emirates to take on Arsenal. If they can secure 4 to 6 points from those fixtures, it will give their title challenge a huge boost.
Liverpool’s injury problems are beginning to ease
As Sagna points out, the absence of Mo Salah is a significant blow. The Egyptian international is not expected to return to fitness until mid-February.
However, other key players are on the comeback trail. Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai are now available for selection, while Kostas Tsimikas is also set to be in contention again soon.
