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Steve McManaman believes Liverpool's summer signings can bring them closer to Manchester City
Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman has talked up the transfer deals of the Reds ahead of the new Premier League season
Mitch Freeley
Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman believes that the Reds summer transfer business has put them in a good position to compete with Manchester City for the Premier League crown. McManaman spoke exclusively with beIN SPORTS on the Merseyside clubs transfer dealings, along with a word on the war of words between Manchester United’s boss Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp.
Despite spending big on the likes of Naby Keita, Fabinho & Xherdan Shaqiri believes that Liverpool is better placed to get closer to a very strong Man City side.
“I think they are closed when it gets down to the hard facts, Liverpool finished fourth in the Premier League they had a wonderful run in the Champions League and one gets in the way of the other certainly in the latter end of the season when you start to rest players. So they could of finished third in the Premier League, but they still finished a long way behind Man City.”
“The signings that they’ve brought in will bring them in a lot closer wherever it’s enough to catch them, is another thing” added the 46-year-old.
McManaman was eager to point out that Liverpool has done the best business in relation to their top four rivals.
“When you look at the business that Manchester United have done, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham even Manchester City they brought in Mahrez by they were streets ahead anyway. You would say that Liverpool has done the best business they’ve strengthened up a decent squad and that should be good enough to finish in second at least or get them closer to Manchester City.”
A bicycle kick. On your debut. Against @ManUtd. 😍
All of the angles @XS_11official's stunning goal...
...keep an eye out for Curtis Jones' reaction! 😱🤣 pic.twitter.com/55IOyMUSeU — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 29, 2018
Whilst the former Manchester City star, was also full of praise for the champions, labelling boss Pep Guardiola as ‘amazing’.“Manchester City were brilliant last year in the Premier League, they won the league in November. It will be interesting whether they can keep up that same tempo. Pep was amazing last year, whether if he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve to get the best out of his players.”
The Reds smashed the world transfer record for a goalkeeper with the signing of Alisson from Roma, something that can be a key accusation for the side.
“Liverpool should be a lot closer really good signings, of course, they have brought in a new goalkeeper which sort of gets rid of that cloud over every fan after what happened last year. They needed to bring in a goalkeeper. The fans demanded a new goalkeeper and I think Jurgen has brought him in and that’s another thing that other people stop talking about."
McManaman, who represented Liverpool on 272 occasions in a nine-year stint also had his say on Jose Mourinho accusing Jurgen Klopp of overspending, suggesting that the Portuguese coach his trying to shift the focus from his own shortcomings in the summer window.
“That’s Mourinho trying to shift (the blame). He’s been very unhappy with the business Manchester United has done this year. He’s spitting feathers, he wants to bring in players and he’s not bringing in players.”
“I think it’s a little bit of distraction, isn’t it. He wants more players and he hasn’t been able to bring them in. They may lose Martial, they may lose a few more. As you know, August the ninth is when the transfer window finishes in England and there is going to be a lot of activity over the next ten days.”