Heskey names ‘key’ factor that could prevent Liverpool winning the PL
Emile Heskey has suggested that this current Liverpool side are a “title-winning team” but injuries could prevent them from winning the Premier League this season.
Liverpool were impacted by injuries last term. Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip were among the players who missed a significant portion of the season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled at points last year. But they recovered towards the end of the campaign as they ended up finishing third in the Premier League.
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Liverpool, along with Man City, Man United and Chelsea, are expected to challenge for the title this season.
Heading into the international break, Liverpool sit second in the table as they are a point behind Chelsea.
As reported by The Metro, Heskey has backed Klopp’s side to win the league if they keep their first-choice XI fit:
“The key for Liverpool is can they keep their starting XI fit? If they keep their starting XI fit, this is a title-winning team,” Heskey said.
“This is the fascinating thing with Manchester City. When you take players out of Man City, they still play the same way and I think it’s the only team in the league where you see that and they play the same way.
“You bring [Riyad] Mahrez out, you can put [Phil] Foden out there. Bring Foden out, you can put Raheem [Sterling] out there. Bring out Raheem and you can put [Gabriel] Jesus out there and they still play exactly the same way. They still make exactly the same runs.
“When you take Salah, Mane and Firmino out of the Liverpool team, it looks different and they have to adapt.
“City are the only team that don’t adapt and they play exactly the same way. But again, if Liverpool keep the same starting XI, I think that’s a title-winning team.
“If Liverpool can keep their starting XI fit, I’ll say Liverpool.
“It’s good! For years, you would just say it was between Arsenal and Manchester United.
“But now you’ve got two, three or four teams – Chelsea you’ve got to throw in their if they start picking up a head of steam – and it makes it a lot better.”