Alan Shearer and Jermain Defoe both predict where Liverpool will finish in the Premier League this season
The Reds’ title chances were given an unlikely boost last night, as Arsenal surprisingly went down 2-0 to West Ham United at the Emirates.
That loss keeps Liverpool top of the pile for the New Year. After 19 games, they sit two points ahead of the Gunners.
But asked for their final top four predictions by Amazon Prime Video Sport on Thursday evening, neither Defoe nor Shearer thought Jurgen Klopp’s side will stay there.
“City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Villa,” said Shearer. “I wanted to put Newcastle in but I can’t!”
Meanwhile, Defoe ignored his fellow pundit’s reservations and put his own team high in the standings. “City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal,” said the Spurs legend. We shall see.
Liverpool predicted to finish second
It’s fascinating how things can turn so quickly in football. Prior to yesterday’s game, you’d still imagine that these same pundits would be backing Arsenal to finish ahead of Liverpool.
But following the Gunners’ loss against West Ham, they’re now seen as only third favourites for the league.
For us, it’s still a little early to judge exactly where the cards will fall.
However, based on last night’s result, you can’t see a way in which Arsenal don’t fall off the pace during the New Year.
They were lucky to escape Anfield with a point last week, after Trent Alexander-Arnold spurned the chance to win the game for Liverpool.
But that luck ran out last night. Although they had enough chances to win the game, Mikel Arteta’s side were punished for failing to take them.
West Ham are a very good side it has to be said. But title hopefuls don’t lose 2-0 at home to teams chasing the top six. The damage would even have been worse had Said Benrahma managed to convert a last minute penalty.
As for Manchester City, well they’ll now be just two points behind Liverpool themselves if they win their game in hand. It’s looking ominous in that respect. We can’t argue too much with these predictions, but if it is to be City and Liverpool, it feels like we’re due a win there.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta once again mentioned his team’s draw against Liverpool after losing to West Ham United last night.
The Gunners title credentials took a blow on Thursday as they were beaten 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
Straight after the game, pundits Alan Shearer and Jermain Defoe suggested that the defeat meant Arsenal were now at-best third favourites for the Premier League title, below Manchester City and Liverpool.
That may be true, but Arteta’s team also generated enough chances to win the game against the Hammers. And speaking to that in his post-match press conference, the Spanish coach suggested that it had been the same scenario as at Anfield on Saturday.
“When the team generates that much normally you are going to win games and that’s the way we have done it,” explained the 41-year-old.
“Because as well against Brighton we generate so much, against Liverpool as well. But we score goals in different ways and we have to make another step in that area to win the game more comfortably for sure, because today the team deserves to win the game, there’s no question about that.”
Arteta rues missed chances
We’re not really sure we agree with Arteta here. Arsenal barely created anything of note against Liverpool last weekend.
The only chance that really comes to mind was the one Gabriel Martinelli put past the post when one-on-one with Alisson Becker.
Otherwise, the Reds goalkeeper barely had anything meaningful to do at all. A colossal performance from Ibrahima Konate in particular largely kept the Gunners at bay.
So, while they may have been unlucky last night, it’s a little disingenuous for Arteta to lump the Liverpool game in with this one.
The former Everton midfielder appears to be suggesting that his team have continuously dropped points despite dominating. That simply wasn’t the case at Anfield.
In fact, the best chance of the game fell Liverpool’s way. Had Trent Alexander-Arnold’s second-half effort fell just beneath the crossbar, Arsenal would have lost.
Given that they also got away with a pretty blatant handball in the box, it’s a bit rich for Arteta to suggest that their failure to win was merely down to a case of missing too many chances.
Either way, how and why Arsenal drop points doesn’t really matter for Liverpool. As long as they keep on dropping them. There’s a title to be won.
Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has taken another step in his nascent managerial career.
Kuyt has long since held ambitions of being a head coach, even once opening up the idea of returning to the touchline at Anfield as Steven Gerrard’s assistant.
Looking at the way things have panned out since he suggested that scenario back in 2021, that’s never going to happen. Gerrard’s disappointing journey as a coach has been well documented, however Kuyt himself hasn’t had the best time of things either.
Having taken the top job at Dutch second division side ADO Den Haag in 2022, Dirk only last 16 games before being fired.
Now though, the 43-year-old has been given another chance. Again, it’s at a second division side, this time in Belgium with Beerschot. Taking to X on Thursday night, the Antwerp based club officially announced the hiring of Kuyt.
“I can’t wait to start this new challenge with a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” the Dutchman is quoted as saying. Best of luck, Dirk!
Kuyt takes on Beerschot job
This may not be a particularly glamourous appointment for Kuyt, but it’s a big chance for him all the same.
Although he didn’t do well at Den Haag, the former Liverpool icon wasn’t exactly given a fair crack of the whip, either.
Having spent a year or so out of the game, Kuyt will be desperate for things to go better this time around.
With Beerschot currently sitting second in the Belgian second division, there’s a real chance for them to go back up to the big time.
If he can navigate them there, then who knows where things can then go.
Unfortunately for Dirk though, he now looks unlikely to make it back to the the Anfield dugout – at least as a head coach.
He’s clearly an intelligent guy and was an excellent player, but with all the respect in the world it feels a long way from Beerschot to Liverpool.
So, although we’ll keep a close eye on how Kuyt is doing, it still feels like if the Reds want one of Rafa Benitez’s former charges to take over at some point, it’s going to have to be Xabi Alonso. Still, you’ve got to be in it to win it. All the best Dirk, go and smash it.
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