Michael Owen says only two clubs can win the Premier League next season
Michael Owen (Picture: Getty) Michael Owen is confident that only two clubs are in the running to win the Premier League next season after Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea. Liverpool cruised to the league title last weekend to mark an incredible first season for Arne Slot on Merseyside. But the Reds were brought down to earth on Sunday as they suffered only their third league defeat of the season to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Despite having the lion’s share of possession, Liverpool were surprisingly toothless in front of goal as strikes from Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, and an own goal from Jarell Quansah saw Chelsea run out 3-1 winners. Speaking after the game, Slot hinted that the manner of Sunday’s defeat was a timely reminder that Liverpool must recruit in the summer window to keep their advantage over the chasing pack. Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. But Owen is confident that Liverpool’s current squad is more than capable of going again next season, and warned that too many incomings could, in fact, disrupt the squad’s balance. ‘It’s such a good harmonious dressing room that if you go and bring more and more in, then you get discontent,’ he told Premier League Productions. ‘The better players you have as backup, the more problems you have.’ Arne Slot’s side were brought back down to earth on Sunday (Picture: Getty) ‘You can look at an extreme like Pep Guardiola this season and say, ‘that’s why you should have more players’, but he’s had thin squads all his life. ‘That bit him on the bum this season, but look at Chelsea – too many good players is a problem as well. So you have to be careful with the balance of your squad. ‘It’s a careful balance, and Liverpool have got it spot on at the moment so we’ll see what happens.’ Liverpoll are still the favourites for next season’s title in Owen’s eyes (Picture: Getty) With the other title challengers having to make up serious ground over the summer, Owen is confident that Liverpool will be heavy favourites to retain their title next season. And the former England striker is not expecting an immediate challenge from Manchester City, who fell off the pace this season after four straight title wins. ‘I can’t see anybody beating Liverpool next year,’ Owen added. ‘Man City are miles off it. Arsenal are possibly the only challengers for me.’ Hoddle fears Liverpool could become unstuck Glenn Hoddle urged Liverpool not to rest on their laurels (Picture: Getty) Glenn Hoddle, meanwhile, urged Liverpool to be proactive in the summer market and insisted they would struggle to retain the title without notable incomings. ‘Man City need to build their squad again and Arsenal need to go again,’ he said. From Liverpool’s point of view, they have a great squad but with the same squad, I can’t see them winning the Premier League next season. ‘I don’t think them players will go again if it’s the same squad. Players like (Curtis) Jones and (Harvey) Elliott aren’t ready to take over when they have to play bigger roles next season. ‘They had some injuries, but they coped because they weren’t in one unit and it wasn’t really the spine of the team. ‘I don’t see them having that luck again. If they get injuries in the same unit – all at the back or all in midfield – then I think they will have a problem. ‘They still need better players in that squad and now is the time to go and get them to dominate and say we are the team to go and beat. I don’t look at that team and go, ‘Wow’.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Michael Owen is confident that only two clubs are in the running to win the Premier League next season after Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.
Liverpool cruised to the league title last weekend to mark an incredible first season for Arne Slot on Merseyside.
But the Reds were brought down to earth on Sunday as they suffered only their third league defeat of the season to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Despite having the lion’s share of possession, Liverpool were surprisingly toothless in front of goal as strikes from Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, and an own goal from Jarell Quansah saw Chelsea run out 3-1 winners.
Speaking after the game, Slot hinted that the manner of Sunday’s defeat was a timely reminder that Liverpool must recruit in the summer window to keep their advantage over the chasing pack.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
But Owen is confident that Liverpool’s current squad is more than capable of going again next season, and warned that too many incomings could, in fact, disrupt the squad’s balance.
‘It’s such a good harmonious dressing room that if you go and bring more and more in, then you get discontent,’ he told Premier League Productions. ‘The better players you have as backup, the more problems you have.’
‘You can look at an extreme like Pep Guardiola this season and say, ‘that’s why you should have more players’, but he’s had thin squads all his life.
‘That bit him on the bum this season, but look at Chelsea – too many good players is a problem as well. So you have to be careful with the balance of your squad.
‘It’s a careful balance, and Liverpool have got it spot on at the moment so we’ll see what happens.’
With the other title challengers having to make up serious ground over the summer, Owen is confident that Liverpool will be heavy favourites to retain their title next season.
And the former England striker is not expecting an immediate challenge from Manchester City, who fell off the pace this season after four straight title wins.
‘I can’t see anybody beating Liverpool next year,’ Owen added. ‘Man City are miles off it. Arsenal are possibly the only challengers for me.’
Hoddle fears Liverpool could become unstuck
Glenn Hoddle, meanwhile, urged Liverpool to be proactive in the summer market and insisted they would struggle to retain the title without notable incomings.
‘Man City need to build their squad again and Arsenal need to go again,’ he said. From Liverpool’s point of view, they have a great squad but with the same squad, I can’t see them winning the Premier League next season.
‘I don’t think them players will go again if it’s the same squad. Players like (Curtis) Jones and (Harvey) Elliott aren’t ready to take over when they have to play bigger roles next season.
‘They had some injuries, but they coped because they weren’t in one unit and it wasn’t really the spine of the team.
‘I don’t see them having that luck again. If they get injuries in the same unit – all at the back or all in midfield – then I think they will have a problem.
‘They still need better players in that squad and now is the time to go and get them to dominate and say we are the team to go and beat. I don’t look at that team and go, ‘Wow’.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
