According to Chris Sutton, Liverpool will be the team that poses the greatest threat to Manchester City’s title defense in the Premier League this year.
Even though they were down to 10 men, Jurgen Klopp’s team was able to make a miraculous comeback on Sunday by beating Newcastle 2-1 thanks to a pair of goals from substitute Darwin Nunez.
Sutton described the performance as a “major statement” when he was asked about it on 5 live.
“They are probably the ones who I think can push Manchester City the most,” Sutton remarked on the Monday Night Club.
The reigning world champions City is presently in first place after winning all three of their games, and Liverpool is currently in second place, two points behind City after drawing their first game away at Chelsea.
Sutton continued by saying, “I think that in terms of, they went down to 10 men at Bournemouth the week before, and saw them off pretty well, but to do it at Newcastle, I thought that was a major statement.”
“I still believe City will win the Premier League, but Liverpool needed that yesterday and will go from strength to strength if they can keep Mohamed Salah,” said Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager. “If they can keep Mohamed Salah, they will go from strength to strength.”
Egypt striker Mohamed Salah, 31, has scored 187 goals in 308 games for Liverpool since coming from Roma in 2017. However, a move to Saudi Arabia has been linked with him, despite the fact that Jurgen Klopp has insisted that he is not for sale. Salah joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017.
In the second half, Liverpool played Eddie Howe’s team with a front three consisting of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, and Cody Gakpo. Nunez and Diogo Jota came on as substitutes for Liverpool in the first half against Newcastle.
In the previous season, Liverpool ended in fifth place, and Portugal’s Jota and Colombia’s Diaz both missed significant time due to injury.
However, Sutton believes that Liverpool has the most potent attack in the Premier League as long as all five of their forwards are healthy.
“If you look at Liverpool’s frontline and consider the fact that they can leave Jota [and Nunez] on the bench, that’s a formidable frontline,” he continued. “That’s a formidable frontline.”
It is difficult to conceive of another squad in the Premier League that possesses the same level of strength and depth as this one.
“Diaz was absent for a significant portion of the second half of the previous season, Jota was out, and Salah has always been very dependable. Nunez, you were right, it was an odd season, but you saw clues that there was a player there.
“You have to wonder whether the nature of [Nunez’s] goals, with both goals being taken clinically, will give him the boost and really kick Liverpool on. Both goals were taken clinically.” He has a powerful physique, he is fast, and he gives the impression of being a handful.
In addition, Sutton lauded Klopp’s performance in the market for new players this summer.
The Merseyside club acquired Dominik Szoboszlai, a midfielder for Hungary, from RB Leipzig in a transaction worth £60 million, and Alexis Mac Allister, a player for Argentina who won the World Cup, from Brighton for £35 million.
At the same time as Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left the club, Japan international Wataru Endo signed from Stuttgart. Wataru Endo is a member of the club’s midfield.
“We’ve all talked about Liverpool’s signings, Szoboszlai and Mac Allister,” added Sutton. “It’s exciting news for the club.”
They are a significant improvement over Henderson and Fabinho, resulting in a more creative midfield for Liverpool.
Anfield will play host to Aston Villa on Sunday. The Reds currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League.
