'Hold them back' - Sky Sports commentator shuts down Liverpool title prospects as Virgil van Dijk claim made
Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith has dismissed Liverpool's chance of winning the Premier League this season despite the impressive start made by Jurgen Klopp's side.
The Reds currently sit second in the table, trailing Manchester City by two points, and are yet to experience defeat in any competition since the start of 2023/24.
Most predicted Liverpool to sneak a Champions League place this year, on the back of a bitterly disappointing campaign last year, though recent performances have raised expectations as to what could be possible in the coming months.
Of the view, however, that the Reds' defensive vulnerabilities could prevent them from going toe-to-toe with Manchester City, Smith said: “I don’t think Liverpool are ready to challenge for the title this season. I don’t feel like they’re at the level required to go toe-to-toe with Manchester City over the course of 38 games.
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"I think they can be a bit vulnerable at times defensively and that will hold them back. They have only kept one clean sheet this season and Virgil van Dijk isn’t the imperious figure he was after he picked up that injury at Goodison Park. They are a very exciting team to watch now, unlike last year. I think that they will be feeling optimistic about the season ahead. After last season, this is what they needed to get everyone back on board and feeling positive about the direction the club was moving in. This is a new chapter for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and he’s focused on moving forward."
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