Ferdinand, Crouch make Liverpool title predictions after Spurs win
Peter Crouch thinks Liverpool will finish above Manchester United this season, while Rio Ferdinand thinks the Reds will be “there or thereabouts” in the title race after they beat Tottenham 3-1.
The Reds’ title defence had been left in tatters following a five-game winless run where they had scored just one goal, but they put that right against a team they have enjoyed beating in recent years.
A 482-minute goal drought was ended by Roberto Firmino on the stroke of half-time, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane bagging after the break to make it seven successive wins against Spurs.
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“I think Liverpool definitely needed this result,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport. “Everybody has been on their case. Is their season over in terms of challenging? I think they’ve answered that emphatically tonight.
“Yes, they were given some gifts tonight but you’ve got to be there to take them and they’ve punished this Spurs team and Liverpool are going to be there or thereabouts.”
Ferdinand added: “When you’ve got a strike-force like this… yes, they’ve had a bit of a blip in form, a little downturn in form in front of goal, but these guys are seasoned at knowing how to be around the top of the Premier League.
“They’re going to be a force. They’re missing main cogs in the backline, that’s an issue. But when you’ve got these type of strikers that may gain confidence again from this, you’re always going to be in with a chance.”
Fellow pundit Peter Crouch added: “I believed in them when they were going through this bad spell.
“I had a little bet with Rio last night, I still think they’ll finish above United, I think they’re still in the title hunt. They’ve got some top players, I thought [Jordan] Henderson dropping into centre-back tonight was fantastic.
“It’s going to be a struggle at times because Nat Phillips had to come on, I’m not sure what happened with Joel Matip, they’re definitely struggling in that area. But when they’ve got the attacking talent they have on display, you cannot write them off.”