Speaking exclusively with former Liverpool midfielder Igor Biscan, he reflects on their poor form including their recent defeat to Man City, but suggests it's only a matter of time before they're back in a title-race!
Biscan has given his perspective on the struggles of stalwarts van Dijk, Salah and Konate and whether the trio can find their form from previous seasons.
Elsewhere, he gives some high praise to Liverpool's under-fire new signings calling Alexander Isak "special" and says that Florian Wirtz has "real class" and he gives his predicted Premier League top-four for 25/26.
Reaction: Man City 3-0 Liverpool
"It Was Hard To Watch"
It was hard to watch. Arne Slot and all the players were very clear after the game that they didn't deserve anything else but lose, and that just sums up the game. Man City were just too strong throughout the game, and in the end, defeat was the only outcome possible.
But I won't be too negative because of the many defeats in the last six, seven, or eight games, especially in the league. I think there is still a good chance for Liverpool to compete for the title. Now they will have a run of games which, at least on paper, should be easier. Hopefully, if they can win a few in a row, I think they will be back in the title race.
Who Is Favourite For The Premier League?
Arne Slot
What’s Going Wrong?
Everybody was surprised because, before the first game started, I think everybody would agree that Liverpool did all they could to secure the best possible position ahead of the new league campaign. Who would question those signings? Any club in the world would want to sign those players. When you see all those new and quality players in the team, you expect this team to dominate and to keep on winning.
The situation is not like this now. It just shows you how difficult football is sometimes. Two and two put together sometimes do not give you four. It's so many details that can decide each game, never mind the whole campaign. It's just such a tough league, and the momentum and the atmosphere are also very, very important.
And then when you see the likes of Arsenal, who didn't have the greatest start, but once they picked up the momentum and the confidence and everything, now they look like a team that's just destined to win the league. So it can shift again in the next month or two, or at least before the end of the season. I would not write off Liverpool at all. I really think they have a quality, very good team. Those players, those new signings, eventually it will show why they cost so much.
Slot Deserves Credit And Needs Time!
There is pressure, but for every manager at that level, there is always pressure. I don't think his job is in question. Even if he doesn’t win the league, just by doing what he did last year, after what happened before he arrived and how difficult his job was, it was exceptional.
Everybody was saying it would be extremely difficult for him to really continue what Jurgen Klopp had done before him. He is a quality manager, and he deserves a lot of credit; and he needs time. There are so many new players, and you need time to make them work together. I'm really sure that they will start winning again very soon.
Assessment of Player Criticism
van Dijk
In my opinion, Virgil van Dijk is one of, if not the best defender ever to play in football. If you look at what he has achieved and the way he has played, the way he has dominated, I don't think that we've ever seen anybody like him. I can give you an example, a few games back when he scored that winner against Atletico Madrid when the team was doing well, and him doing all the usual stuff that he's doing, he was repeatedly called the best or one of the best defenders.
Now, a few games after that, when the team is not performing and conceding too many goals, then of course, everybody starts to have a go at the main guy. I don't think he's the problem, for sure. He's not a problem; he cannot be the problem. He's just too good to be a problem. And then you question his leadership skills. But then again, he's the same guy he was last year. You cannot question that if he was the best, not only last year but many years before, why would he change? He probably does the same things he did last year and all those years before.
So, I would not go so much into it and analyse every detail and then start to question his quality because that's nonsense, really. If anybody is doing what he's supposed to be doing and is still dominating, and he's probably the most important player, together with one or two more, it's him, and it will always be like this, so I don't see such a big problem there. Those performances in the first part of the season, when Liverpool were winning every game, it was just the same as usual, so dominant, so calm and assuring that it was just as it always was. It looked too easy, the things that are not so easy in reality, but he made them look easy. But we must not forget he's not alone on the pitch. He's not defending on his own.
Salah
The bar has been set very, very high for Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. When the team is not getting results, like they are not getting now, then of course the people will criticise those guys, the most important players in the team. I would think from outside that he really is someone who takes care of himself and is a top-class professional. With those guys, with those players, eventually it will be like it used to be.
He's going to start scoring, and he's going to deliver his numbers. Maybe not as much as he did last year because last year was just incredible, but in the end, his numbers will be good enough for what he is in the team, one of the best players.
Konate
Liverpool tried to bring in Marc Guehi, which also tells you that they felt they needed to strengthen that part of the team. So it's not a coincidence that they have, if there are problems, and in all honesty, there are some problems, and they're conceding too many goals.
They knew that or they expected that, for this reason. They really wanted to sign a top-class centre-back. So that's maybe the indication that there is something that position needs to be sorted. And I believe it will be sorted. In the near future, it needs to be sorted. Of course, when you play alongside Virgil van Dijk, he makes things easier for you at times, but in the same way, when things are not going really well, they will tend to highlight whoever is playing with him first.
So it's not easy to be there. But the good thing from the club's point of view is that you can react very soon in January if you need it. And as I said, just the fact that they wanted to bring a top-class centre-back probably says that they expected this.
Do Liverpool Need Another CB in January?
New Signing Hope
"Special" Isak
Which team would not have wanted to sign Alexander Isak at the beginning of the season? I don't think there is any team, any manager, any set of fans who would say: ‘No, no, we don't like him. We don't believe that he will be good enough for our team.’
He's a special player. He's a top-class centre-forward, like everybody knows. And yeah, he missed pre-season and then the lack of match fitness, sharpness, for sure, takes away a bit of your ability. But it's the same situation like what we said about Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, you know, the quality is there. And there is for sure quality. It's always been there. It's just a matter of time before he starts scoring.
It's just a matter of getting into the right rhythm, scoring some goals, and then again, a little bit of this momentum back. And the whole team needs that, and when this happens, then we will see a different story.
Wirtz's "Real Class"
Everybody expects Florian Wirtz to become one of the best players in the Premier League, and not because of his price tag. Even when he's not doing really well on the pitch in all those games, there's always enough moments, enough situations that everybody can see the quality with so many good decisions, good passes, but they don’t get finished.
The real class is there. He's constantly on the move. He's maybe even trying too hard now because he feels a little bit of pressure, of course, but the quality is there. The class is there, and with so many good players, they are probably a little bit angry with the situation now that everybody is doubting the team. I wouldn't be surprised if they go on a great run of winning games and then to really be back challenging for the title.
Premier League Top-Four Prediction
Another Surprise Contender?
I would probably say Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City in the top three. At the moment, although Liverpool is going through what they are going through, Arsenal is favourite. Manchester City is always there, and I think Liverpool is just too good not to be there.
Sunderland are probably doing what Nottingham Forest did last year. Eventually, I don't think they will manage to stay there until the end of the season. Chelsea are looking okay, although I'm still not sure about them, but maybe they look like a team that might be good enough to finish fourth.
Bet on Football Odds at BOYLE Sports
*Prices are subject to fluctuation
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly
