Stephen Warnock: Liverpool’s sights have switched to maintaining fourth spot
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has told NewBettingOffers.co.uk that he believes the defending Premier League champions are now well and truly out of the title race and must switch their focus to securing a top-four finish.
Speaking to NewBettingOffers.co.uk, Warnock said: “Liverpool’s recent form has ended any hope of them challenging for the Premier League title this season. It wasn’t just the draw with Burnley, it was the games against Leeds and Sunderland as well. You can’t be dropping points against all three promoted teams and expect to be title contenders.
“There have been far too many games where Liverpool have dropped points they would expect to get on paper, even going back to the 3-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest in November. You can’t win a title with results like that.
“To be honest, I haven’t really considered them to be in the title race since November when they went on that poor run.”
Liverpool looking over their shoulder at Man Utd and Chelsea
Warnock believes Liverpool will now be focused on cementing their spot in the top four, with Manchester United and Chelsea among the teams challenging Arne Slot’s side for Champions League qualification.
“There were positive signs for Manchester United in their win over Manchester City,” said Warnock. “That said, we’ve seen shoots of positivity before and it hasn’t worked out. However, it was their best performance of the season for a full 90 minutes. The fact it was against City as well tells you everything about what Michael Carrick has brought into the changing room, and what was there before it under Ruben Amorim. The system seems better suited to the squad.
“It begs the question, what have they been doing for the past 18 months? They’ve been playing in a system where the handbrake has been on and it hasn’t suited them. They’ve got some good players and if they can keep up their form, Liverpool will be looking over their shoulder.
“United also don’t have European football, so Carrick can work with the team on the training ground and get them playing his football. He’s also brought in some really good backroom staff which will help him.
“Then there’s Chelsea, who have also changed their manager. We’ll have to wait and see exactly how Liam Rosenior gets them to play and how they respond to him, because he’s a young coach.
“Both United and Chelsea are capable of going on a strong run, while Liverpool’s form has been so indifferent this year. It looks like there will be a proper fight for fourth and fifth place.”
Wirtz can be Liverpool’s main man
Former Liverpool defender Warnock believes Florian Wirtz is beginning to show his true potential and can become the Reds’ main man.
“We’re starting to see what Florian Wirtz is really capable of,” he said. “It took him a while to start registering goals and assists, but now we’re getting that from him. That’s all well and good, but you also have to do the defensive side of the game and he’s starting to improve in that area.
“He’s building better relationships with his teammates. They’re making runs for him and they’re probably runs they wouldn’t have made before, because they haven’t played with someone capable of finding some of the passes that Wirtz can.
“The big thing for him now is whether he can be the man to step up and break teams down when the opposition is playing a low block at Anfield and hanging on for a draw. He scored the first against Burnley, but when they got it back to 1-1 that is where he needs to step up again and produce another killer pass or goal. That’s where you get judged.
“I still don’t think we’ll see the best of him until he has had a full season in the Premier League, but we’re certainly starting to see glimpses of why Liverpool spent so much money on him.”
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