:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58332471/166665732.jpg.0.jpg)
It’s difficult to imagine a retired Liverpool legend talking down his former side’s chances at football glory. (There are exceptions, of course, such as Jamie Carragher in his role as Sky Sports Hot Take Haver.) But in general you expect Anfield heroes to back the Reds. If you read something quoting Ian Rush as saying Liverpool would finish tenth and get drummed out of every cup competition, you’d probably want to employ a fact checker.
Nevertheless, hearing former Liverpool giants offer a confidence boost is always nice. To wit: former Liverpool striker Kevin Keegan, and his bold claims for the Reds’ chances in the Champions League this season.
“Don’t forget they are still in the Champions League, they could win that,” said Keegan.
Told you it was a bold claim! Mind you, Keegan— who played for Shankly’s Liverpool and won three league titles and a European Cup before moving to Hamburger SV and being named European Footballer Of The Year in 1978 and 1979— knows what he’s talking about. If he says the Reds have a real chance, I’m inclined to listen to him (beyond it being what I want to hear anyway).
“Why not? They are in it. They have Porto next which won’t be easy. But it’s a tie they could come through.”
Why not indeed!
He continued:
“At the moment I think all the top teams in there have a problem of one kind or another. Are Manchester United better than Liverpool? Probably not. Are Chelsea? Probably not.”
Probably not. I love it.
Keegan also took a moment to praise Jurgen Klopp.
“I think Jurgen fits like a glove. He gets the Liverpool humour, he gets what the fans want. The fans enjoy watching him kick every ball. You feel like he’s going to tackle someone running down the line at times! He comes with a great track record, You can’t argue with what he achieved at Dortmund.”
Keegan offered some interesting insights on Liverpool’s current strengths and weaknesses and what they probably need to do to win the Premier League. You can read the rest of his quotes here.
I’m just going to go lay down and think about the Reds lifting the European Cup again, don’t mind me.