Liverpool picked up their maiden Premier League title last season but with the way, teams like Chelsea and Manchester United are rebuilding, there’s a buzz that the Anfield outfit might not be able to defend their title.
Man City have also made a number of pretty decent signings while Arsenal have also made a clear statement of intent by winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield in the past couple of months.
And while making his top-four predictions, Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Liverpool will have to cross a lot of obstacles in order to be crowned the champions for the 2020/21 season.
“No one can say Liverpool had a freak season because they finished so far ahead of their rivals, but they did have one big factor on their side that they cannot guarantee going forward,” Ferdinand told TEAMtalk.
“The key for them has been having their key players fit for the best part of two seasons. It has been massive and what we have yet to find out is how they will cope if they are to lose a few big names for an extended period.
“Virgil van Dijk has played nearly every game for two seasons and it’s hard to keep that going. Mo Salah has been fit for all the big games and so has Sadio Mane.
“If they lose one of two of their players with big injuries, then we will see something else from them.
“What have they got in reserve to come in for these proven stars and maintain this level of consistency? That’s what we are waiting to see.
“Questions will be asked of this Liverpool team and their recruitment from this point forward. Their front three have been fit consistently and they might need to look at having some better quality in reserve if Salah or Mane, in particular, are out for a long period.
“When I look at the teams I played in when we were winning titles every season at Manchester United, we never had two seasons when all the top players were fit for the big games, so Liverpool have had some fortune there and obviously do things right on the medical side as well to get their players right.
“If they can continue to keep those players fit, I don’t see Liverpool being stopped this season, but it is unlikely that will happen year after year. If things change with the personnel, it opens it up for the other teams and not just Man City.”
Liverpool will undoubtedly have a lot of pressure on them this upcoming season since last campaign it was primarily a two-horse race but this time around, the likes of Man United and Chelsea are trying really hard to challenge for the Premier League title.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are still very much the favourites to pick up the trophy next summer but we have a feeling that fatigue and sky-high expectations will eventually catch up with them at some point during the season.
