Dean Saunders: Premier League title defence the priority for Liverpool
Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders has told NewBettingOffers.co.uk that he believes defending the Premier League title will be the Reds’ number one target for next season.
The ex-Reds striker discussed the upcoming 2025/26 season and which competitions Arne Slot’s side will prioritise. He suggested Liverpool will start the season by focusing on going as far as possible in every competition but named the Premier League as their main goal.
Speaking to NewBettingOffers.co.uk, Saunders said: “Liverpool will start the season trying to win every competition they’re involved in, including the FA Cup and League Cup. That said, the number one objective will still be to defend their Premier League crown. Then it’s the Champions League, FA Cup and then the League Cup. At least that is how I see it – I don’t know if the club shares that view.
“I would think the number one priority is the Premier League, because that is a marathon competition. It is not a knockout where you can get a bit of luck on a given day and go through, it’s about consistency.”
Liverpool can’t afford to get complacent next season
Saunders emphasised the need for Liverpool to maintain concentration and motivation next season. Describing every game against Liverpool as like a cup final for their opponents, he warned his former side against complacency when facing teams lower down in the league who will be desperate to take their scalp.
“Every game Liverpool play in the Premier League is like a cup final for their opponent,” said Saunders. “If Liverpool are not fully motivated and concentrated week-in, week-out, then they could slip up. If you have any chinks in your armour, like not being able to get yourself motivated for a game, then other teams will take advantage.
“Take Sunderland for example. If you’re playing them away from home, the way you lose is if you turn up with the wrong attitude. Liverpool have got better players and nine times out of 10 they should beat Sunderland, but upsets do happen.
“Those teams will be playing above themselves because they’re playing the Premier League champions, so you can’t take anything for granted. As the defending champions they will be up against it every week, because it will be treated like a cup final by their opponents.”
Too many Man Utd players have the wrong attitude
Saunders also discussed Liverpool’s arch-rivals Manchester United. The former Premier League striker suggested that United have an attitude problem within their squad, urging them to follow the route that Mikel Arteta took at Arsenal in getting rid of those players who he thought had the wrong approach.
“There are players in that Manchester United squad who don’t have the right attitude to play for a club of their stature,” he said. “Some of them have got all the talent, but the wrong attitude. It is as if some of them feel they are doing the club a favour by playing for them, but that can never be the case at a club as big as Manchester United.
“The reality with some of these players is that they’re not as good as they maybe think they are and they don’t work hard enough. All the talk nowadays may be about tactics – low blocks, high blocks, possession stats and expected goals. But what about working harder than the other team?
“Individually, you have to work harder than you opposite number and win your battles. Before talent comes hard work. Are you fitter than your opponent? Are you more determined than them? That is what you need to have as a professional footballer at a big club. Even if you don’t play well, make sure your opponent doesn’t have a good game and make things hard for them.
“You have to perform every week and I just feel that some of those United players have let the club down. I’m not on my own in thinking that – it’s obvious! You can’t finish 15th in the Premier League and have the second-highest wage bill – that is inexcusable. They pay the biggest wages and can have whatever players they want but have managed to end up with a number of players who have the wrong attitude.
“Arsenal managed to turn it around. Mikel Arteta has them back on track after getting rid of the players who he felt had the wrong attitude. That is what United need to do.”
Top 20 Betting Offers
|
New Customers Only. Sign up with bonus code: EB20. Bet £20 and get £20 in Free Bets. Paid as £5 Free Bet on Soccer, £5 Free Bet on Horse Racing, £5 Free Bet on Multiples and a £5 Free Bet on any Market. Terms apply 18+ gambleaware.org. |
|||||
|
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. One welcome offer per customer. Bet a minimum of £/€10 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £/€10 Win + £/€10 Place) within 7 days of registration to qualify. Receive £/€20 Tote Credit, £/€10 sports Free Bet and 20 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to the bet slip. 7-day expiry. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. Money back as £10 in free bets. Free bet is credited the day after the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account. |
|||||
|
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. |
|||||
|
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, payment method exclusions apply; New customers only. T&C apply; 18+ Please gamble responsibly. |
|||||
|
18+ New customers only. Min deposit £20. Min Wager £20 at min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max free bet £20. T&Cs apply begambleaware. |
|||||
|
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New Customers Only. Place a single £10 bet within 3 calendar days of registration. Bet must settle on the same day of placement. Min odds Evens (2.00). 4 x £5 Free Bets valid for 7 days. Max win £250. T&Cs apply. Ends 28/02/25. GB residents only. Gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
18+. New Customers Only. Max 1 x £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as Bonus Token Min 4/5 Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller, Paypal not eligible. T&Cs Apply. Please gamble responsibly. |
|||||
|
18+ New Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4 x £5 free bets. Free bet available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on any sports at odds of 1/1+ within 7 days of signing up. Get £15 & £10 in Free bets for set markets & £15 & £10 in Slots Bonus for set games, 40x wagering, to withdraw max £625. Rewards expire in 30 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
Place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and get 3 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets and 3 x £5 Winning Favourites spread bets and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet.18+ www.gambleaware.org. |
|||||
|
New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £40, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Progress Play network Full Terms Apply. |
|||||
|
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. See full terms. #AD |
|||||
|
New customers place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get 2 x £10 free bets. 18+ begambleaware |
|||||
|
18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. Get 4x£5 Free Bets for set markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, to withdraw max £250. Rewards expire in 20 days. Full T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
New Customers Only. £10 in real money. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.00 or more. Bets must be placed within 24 hours of registration. £10 free bets must be wagered on sports. UK residents. Full terms apply. Gambling can be addictive, play responsibly. 18+ |
|||||
|
18+. Play Safe. New customers only, using promo code T60. Valid from 13/04/2022. Online play. Get £60 Bonus split between Vegas & Sports in the following manner – (i) Deposit £10 to unlock £20 Vegas Free Bet on Selected Games (72hr expiry, wagering reqs apply); then (ii) bet £10+ (odds 1/2+) with cash (excl. £10 deposit) or Vegas winnings (after wager reqs met). Once settled, receive £40 Sports Free Bets excluding Virtual Markets (4x £10, 7 days expiry). Full T&Cs apply. #ad |
|||||
|
New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £20, have 1.9 or greater odds and must be settled within 7 days of opt-in. The Free bet include: 1 x £20 Free bet any Live or Pre-Match event. Max payout – £500. 7-day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app secured by Truelayer. Profit boost: One boost per day; claim required. 1 day to claim (by 23:59 UTC+3). Max stake £30. Single bets only. No Free Bets. Profit Boost valid for 24 hrs. Max payout £1,000. Credited within 24 hrs. 18+. BeGambleAware.com |
