Owen Hargreaves says Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool would win the Premier League title if they had Fulham midfielder, Joao Palhinha, in their ranks.
The title-winner with Manchester United thinks that Liverpool are ‘missing’ a defensive-minded midfielder to lift English football’s main crown.
In the summer, the Reds parted ways with Fabinho after he secured a transfer to the Saudi Pro League, with the club linked with many players across the shop, including Joao Palhinha.
The Portugal international produced an outstanding debut campaign for newly-promoted Fulham and it drew the eyes of the big boys across Europe, including Bayern Munich.
But Hargreaves thinks the 28-year-old, who scored for Fulham at the weekend during their 1-1 draw at Brighton, is someone who should have moved to Anfield instead, as he told Premier League Productions (30/10/23 at 2:40 pm).
Liverpool did refresh their midfield with Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister joining, along with the ever-impressive Dominik Szoboszlai, highly-rated youngster Ryan Gravenberch and perhaps the defensive-minded of them all, Wataru Endo.
Joao Palhinha to Liverpool
“I think they are missing one player and that’s a defensive midfield player,” said Hargreaves. “I think if Palhinha plays for Liverpool, then they can win the league. He is that good.”
Liverpool’s defence
It’s improving and getting better, with back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League, including during the win over Nottingham Forest from the weekend.
But those on Merseyside are yet to keep a clean sheet on the road and that needs to change as soon as possible, or else they won’t battle for the title.
It’s still early days to make a judgment call on what will or won’t happen, but one thing is for sure, Liverpool is in the mix so far.
And a big reason behind that is their ruthless and devastating attack, with Mohamed Salah getting on the scoresheet for the eighth time this season.
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