Liverpool legend-turned-pundit Michael Owen believes the Reds should once more compete efficiently in the Champions League whilst making progress in the English top-flight. The Reds had an impressive 2017/18 season where they managed to end as the runners-up for the Champions League crown and they will return to the competition this term after finishing fourth in the league standings.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Owen spoke about the Reds success in reaching the latter stages of European competitions and believes they could replicate the feat once more this season. He added that the Reds should provide a better challenge in the Premier League this term, though the title could be decided by how reigning champions Manchester City fare through the campaign.
“They’ve proved over many years now that European competition suits them. The Europa League and then obviously last season in the Champions League, getting to the finals of both of them in recent years.I think that Liverpool have proved that: that European competition holds no fears whatsoever,” he said.
“And the league, I’m certain that they’re going to improve on their points tally from last season again because they’ve got a better team this season, quite simply. It’s whether Manchester City can sustain what they did last season as well, as to whether they can get any closer. Certainly on both fronts Liverpool will be a major force.”
Over the past few years, the Reds have had concerns in the backline which have often let them down but they managed to partly solve this problem last season with the signing of defender Virgil van Dijk. Since then, the club have made sure to bolster the goalkeeping department with the recruitment of Alisson Becker and the Brazilian has made a strong start to the campaign, keeping clean sheets in the first three games of the Premier League season. Liverpool are presently topping the league standings with a better goal difference over some of their rivals and they have the opportunity to secure a fourth straight win of the campaign when they travel to Leicester City this weekend.
