Former Liverpool, Aston Villa & Wales striker Dean Saunders talks exclusively to 888 sport about Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League this season and the excellent start to the season from Arne Slot’s team.
He also shares his view on Aston Villa and other football topics.
What have you made of Liverpool's start to the season under Arne Slot?
Dean: It’s been brilliant. No question about it. Slot’s seamless move into the first team head coach as gone so smoothly. I believe he hasn’t changed that much, but has put his marker down.
For sure. You look at the defence and the improvement is evident. Barely conceding a goal in the Premier League and champions League is excellent. Virgil van Dijk looks revitalised.
The full backs are fit and up front, Liverpool are scoring plenty with Salah continuing to fire goals and assists in and Nunez and Gakpo, along with Jota are thriving on the chances created.
Slot hasn’t made it about him, he has gone in and kept a similar way of playing for the squad and they seem to be enjoying their football and winning breads a good feeling in the dressing room.
Do you think he can guide them to a PL title in his first season?
Dean: Absolutely why not. Man City and Arsenal aren’t firing on all cylinders, they have injuries to key players and this will give Liverpool confidence they can continue their good run of form.
Defensively, with the massive improvement, this gives me confidence they can go and win the League, but they must take advantage now and try and go as far ahead of the other two sides as they can.
The experienced players look hungry, and Slot looks to have them up for the title fight, but it is still early and all you can do is keep winning.
Who has surprised you the most from Liverpool this season?
Dean: Defensively the improvement is evident. Maybe due to a consistent defensive line, but by not conceding Liverpool are able to gain confidence and then with the fire power they have up front, they can score goals.
Arsenal was a test and they came out of that with a good point. They haven’t yet faced City, but there is no reason they can’t win that with the way Liverpool and City are playing respectively.
They aren’t conceding chances which was something everyone spoke about Arsenal last season, so there is good belief in the side.
What are your fondest memories of playing for Liverpool - alongside the likes of Ian Rush and Steve McManaman?
Dean: Rushy was a top top striker. Only needed one chance and a fellow Welsh man, he was good to play with.
He was a great finisher, he was clinical and with all the top players around us, he scored for fun and had plenty of players creating chances as well.
Steve McManaman was sot skilful, he caused defences so many problems, he had class and so much confidence. Great to play with and watch as he caused defenders so many problems.
A huge win for Liverpool in the Champions League over Bayer Leverkusen. Have the Reds now been vindicated going for Arne Slot over Xabi Alonso?
Dean: I wouldn't directly say that as Xabi Alonso did a brilliant job last season at Bayer Leverkusen. To win the League against a dominant Bayern team is a magnificent achievement.
He may though have look to come in and set his own new ideas and way of playing, which may have disrupted the squad and some of his methods taken time to gel.
Looking at Arne Slot, He has come in and continued the work from Klopp. The press, the attacking play, the basis of the team who played last year have all remained and the team have started the season so well.
Defensively you can see there is a massive improvement and Liverpool aren’t conceding many goals at all. Up the other end Salah is still at the top of his game, Nunez is scoring, as is Gakpo too.
Do you think Liverpool have what it takes to have a solid UCL run and challenge for the league too?
Dean: absolutely. The club love the Champions League so with Anfield at home on a Champions League night, like nothing you will witness again, they don’t fear anyone and with the strong defence, they can score goals to win games.
No one will fancy coming to Anfield in the knockout stages and Liverpool don’t fear anyone on the road as well.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk contracts are running down. Do you think Liverpool should keep both? Or let them go?
Dean: Both have been incredible for the Club. Both will go down in history as being one of the best centre backs and striker respectively. Looking at both of them this season, they seem rejuvenated and both are playing at a high level.
So maybe they will want to both go out on a high and win the Premier League once more, or even another Champions league. You can't argue if they want to leave, but they will be so difficult to replace.
Regarding Xabi Alonso, there is talk that he'll replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Would he be the right man?
Dean: You can't replace Pep. What he has done for Man City is incredible. He is unique, a one off, teams try to copy his style of play.
To win the Premier League so many times, a treble as well, I know he has had money, but still, he has been incredible for Man City. The football they play, to win 4 in a row is some achievement. But, once Pep leaves, Xabi Alonso could do well.
You see what he did last year, and he took the Bundesliga by storm with the way he got his team playing and to win by a long way must prove he has talent and could bring a good style to the Premier League.
Moving onto Aston Villa. Is the Champions League taking a toll when it comes to their league standings?
Dean: Firstly, Unai Emery is doing a brilliant job at Aston Villa. What a transformation from a few years ago when Villa was in the Championship and then mid table in the Premier League.
Now with Unai, they have Champions League football for the first time is a very long time and naturally it will take an effect.
They have started the Champions League in outstanding form and with not a huge squad, it can take its toll, but trust Unei to find a way to ensure their League form stays strong and they challenge for top 4 again this year.
Does Unai Emery need to win a trophy to be considered a true success at the club?
Dean: Not really. He has brought a breath of fresh air to the club. Every part of the Club is on a high, the players are playing so well, the squad has improved, the atmosphere at Villa Park is good and they are competing for all major trophies.
Teams don't like coming to Villa Park and take note of the club now. A win over Bayern Munich was a statement win and you see the quality in the squad now which wasn't there a few years ago.
Is Ollie Watkins' dip in form worrying? Can you see him being dropped from Thomas Tuchel's England squad?
Dean: I don't think so. He is a top striker. He will get scoring again and must be in the England squad. His goal for England in the semi-final was brilliant. I like him a lot. I like the way he plays.
He will score goals as chances are being made for him and it won't be long before he scores again and with all strikers, confidence is a big thing and I am sure he will go on to score plenty this season to push Villa onto finishing where they did last year.
They are competing on both domestic and European fronts, so plenty of games for him to play in.
With Rúben Amorim's recent Champions League win over Man City and some reaching comparisons to Sir Alex Ferguson already, do you think his style could succeed in the Premier League?
Dean: I can’t wait for him to manage here. Yes, I have heard comparisons to Joe Mourinho as well, so let’s see what he can do.
But so far you can’t argue with what he has done in Portugal Sporting Lisbon’s big win over City will have Europe on notice and if this is Amorim’s final game then what a way to go out.
Man Utd is a tough challenge. The dressing room for a start will need sorting out. He has his work out how to succeed, so it will be a big test.
Also, if he can recruit from Lisbon or knows other targets he wants, then this will help is way of playing, having players he wants. He will need time for sure, but it’s an exciting time.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Adobe*
