Home All The News Rio explains how Liverpool need same ‘fortune’ as last term to retain title
Date published: Monday 7th September 2020 3:42
Liverpool romped to the Premier League title last season, finishing 18 points ahead of Man City…
Rio Ferdinand is struggling to see how Liverpool will be “stopped this season” if they can keep their top players fit.
The Reds romped to the Premier League title last term, finishing 18 points ahead of Manchester City, while they were 33 points clear of Ferdinand’s former team Manchester United.
The likes of City and fourth-placed Chelsea have brought in a number of players as they attempt to close the gap to Liverpool next season.
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Ferdinand admits Liverpool deserved the title last season but has warned them that they could need that same “fortune” with injuries this term, as they had last campaign.
“No one can say Liverpool had a freak season because they finished so far ahead of their rivals, but they did have one big factor on their side that they cannot guarantee going forward,” Ferdinand told TEAMtalk.
“The key for them has been having their key players fit for the best part of two seasons. It has been massive and what we have yet to find out is how they will cope if they are to lose a few big names for an extended period.
“Virgil van Dijk has played nearly every game for two seasons and it’s hard to keep that going. Mo Salah has been fit for all the big games and so has Sadio Mane.
“If they lose one of two of their players with big injuries, then we will see something else from them.
“What have they got in reserve to come in for these proven stars and maintain this level of consistency? That’s what we are waiting to see.
“Questions will be asked of this Liverpool team and their recruitment from this point forward. Their front three have been fit consistently and they might need to look at having some better quality in reserve if Salah or Mane, in particular, are out for a long period.
“When I look at the teams I played in when we were winning titles every season at Manchester United, we never had two seasons when all the top players were fit for the big games, so Liverpool have had some fortune there and obviously do things right on the medical side as well to get their players right.
“If they can continue to keep those players fit, I don’t see Liverpool being stopped this season, but it is unlikely that will happen year after year. If things change with the personnel, it opens it up for the other teams and not just Man City.”