Exclusive Interview with Danny Murphy: Liverpool, Tottenham, Fulham and Premier League Insights

Last updated: 26 January 2026 by Liam Reaney

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy sits down with the Best Betting Sites team to share his insights on the current Premier League season. In this exclusive interview, Murphy discusses Mo Salah’s controversial outburst at Liverpool, Thomas Frank’s challenges at Tottenham, his relationship with Marco Silva at Fulham, and much more. He also reflects on his famous string of winners at Old Trafford and offers his predictions for the weekend’s fixtures.

Liverpool

Do you think this is Mo Salah’s last season at Anfield?

Is this Mo Salah’s last season at Anfield? I think so, yeah. I know he’s contracted longer, but with what’s gone on, how the team’s performed and how he’s performed, I think it would surprise most people if he stayed for another year. The only caveat would be if a new manager came in and really wanted to build a team around him, try to get one more year out of him and have that conversation. I don’t know Mo Salah personally, but maybe he’d be given a new impetus, a new lease of life, with a different manager.

It seems that although he’s played since he came back from AFCON, things maybe aren’t the same as before. We don’t think there’s been an apology – we haven’t heard of that – but they’ve got on with it for the good of the club.

Inevitably, as you get older, you probably struggle, like most of us did, to come to terms with the fact that you’re not necessarily as important, that you don’t play every game and every minute, no matter what you’ve done before. Even though what he’s done before is phenomenal. I think it would be a surprise if he’s still wearing a Liverpool shirt at the beginning of next season.

Has his behaviour damaged his reputation? Is Steven Gerrard Liverpool’s undisputed legend now?

I think Stevie will always be thought of more fondly, mainly because he’s one of their own, a Scouser through and through, and he dragged the team through a very difficult period more or less on his own. Whereas Salah did have the help of Mane, Firmino and others during that successful period.

I don’t think this particular outburst, or some of his selfishness over the last year or 18 months in interviews and the way he’s acted at times – whether that’s on the bench or coming off – will damage his legacy. I still think he’ll be thought of very highly. He’ll still be loved and adored by millions of Liverpool fans across the planet because of what he’s contributed over a long period of time. And you’re not always appreciated as much until you’ve left.

The biggest compliment you can pay Mo Salah is that when you talk about the greatest ever Liverpool teams, and you’re talking about some phenomenal players over the decades, he’s in the conversation. The fact he’s in that conversation puts him in a very elite group of players who are adored and who’ve contributed massively to Liverpool’s success during their period. So I don’t think his legacy will be tarnished by anything he’s done.

But in terms of the comparison with Stevie, you’re talking about a Scouser captain at his club, playing there his whole career and dragging Liverpool through so many moments to get silverware, to create memories and history for the club, which Mo hasn’t quite achieved in the same way in the biggest finals.

What do you make of the blunder over missing out on Marc Guehi?

I think it was a blow, a real blow. When you look at it, okay, the wages are high, granted, but the fee for a player of that quality, that experience, that calmness, speed and athleticism – someone very well versed in Premier League football, an international, a captain for his club – he’s a leader. So it’s a big miss.

And it’s one of your rivals as well. It probably wouldn’t be so frustrating for Liverpool supporters if he’d gone abroad – that would be more understandable, maybe a lifestyle choice. But to go to Manchester City is a kick in the teeth, especially as Liverpool are so reliant on Konate and Van Dijk, without the real backup needed to sustain a challenge for the big trophies.

If Konate has had a couple of games out because of personal reasons, Gomez has come in and got injured, they signed a young lad and he’s done his cruciate. So the need for Liverpool to get that position sorted at the beginning of the season was greater. I said this before the season when I was asked about it – getting him over the line was more important than Isak, I felt, and I stand by that now.

If Van Dijk or Konate miss time, Liverpool are struggling anyway. And if they want to go deep in the Champions League, which is very possible, you need cover.

It also would have allowed the option of playing with three centre backs, changing things up, getting Kerkez and Frimpong flying down the wings as wing backs, trying different things. Without that, if Konate or Van Dijk were to have a sustained period out, there’s a problem. We saw it at Bournemouth at the weekend – you’ve got a tenacious, small midfielder playing centre back. For Liverpool Football Club, that’s an imbalance of the squad. It’s not something you expect at an elite club when you’ve got the funds Liverpool have to balance the squad out.

So they made an error. And although the window’s closing rapidly, I still expect them to be looking to bring someone in, whether on loan or otherwise. They might not be able to get the quality they want, but I’d be amazed if they’re not looking to strengthen in that area.

Can you think of half a billion ever spent so badly in the market?

I think it’s hard to compare, because not many clubs have spent that much in one go on a small group of players. And to judge it so quickly would be wrong. If we were at this stage next season, then you could really do a deeper dive into it.

The fact is, Liverpool were put in a position where they had to replace players of real quality from a title-winning side, not through choice. Trent insisted he was leaving. Jota passed away tragically. Diaz wouldn’t sign a new contract. So three outstanding players who’d been part of Liverpool’s success had to be replaced.

They then signed five players. The reality is that some of that wasn’t choice, it was necessity. But in terms of the signings, you could already argue that Ekitike would be classed as a success. Wirtz is starting to show his quality as well. We all know he had a slow start, but he’s turning opinions around.

I think it’s fair to say the other three need to do work, need to get better. It’s hard to compare against anybody else who’s done it in such a short space of time and say it’s been bad. But there are definitely question marks over the recruitment at this time, because so many of them have struggled to make an impact.

That’s inevitable at the top end of football. When you’re in charge of recruitment, or part of a recruitment team, and you spend so much money, your title challenge is floundering and you’re not getting results, the question is valid. Was it a mistake? I think the jury’s still out.

Who is to blame for the poor transfer strategy?

I think there also has to be a question about the input of each section of the club, from management to recruitment to the football directors. Who’s actually making the final decisions, and deciding that two strikers for nearly 200 million is better than getting a top-class centre half that balances the squad better? Those are valid questions.

My gut feeling is that not all the business that was done was exactly what Arne Slot wanted. And that’s not just a Liverpool thing, that’s football across Europe. Maybe Pep’s a little bit different, but even Pep, if you listen to some of his interviews, he kind of dismisses responsibility for transfers and puts it elsewhere.

It’s strange for us older players, who know that managers had so much say in players coming in years ago. Liverpool’s spending has been talked about a lot. The reality is they spent so little in past windows that all they were really doing was saving money to spend it in one big go.

People don’t talk as much about the money they brought in. They’ve received a hell of a lot of money for players. But the questions around recruitment are going to hover over the people in charge until you see the fruits of that labour. The performances at the moment, and where they sit in the league, suggest the recruitment hasn’t been as good as it should have been, given the money they’ve spent.

Would you welcome Trent Alexander-Arnold back to the club?

No. I think that would be a difficult one to sell to the fans. Also, not many players go back to a former club and succeed. The succession plan has to be about moving forward and evolving the team. So no, I don’t think that would work.

Tottenham

What one change does Thomas Frank need to make?

Obviously, results. But the one thing I’ve found – and I’ve been to three or four Tottenham games this season – is that the big demand from the fans is bravery, and risking losing to win.

Too many times they’ve started games tentatively and pragmatically, without the belief that they can go and win. I think he’s got to risk going out on his shield and really commit to a high-intensity, high-risk approach. I’m not saying full Ange-ball chaos, but a really positive mindset to go after teams and try to win games.

Tottenham fans don’t mind losing the odd game if you have a go. Too many home performances have been tentative and fearful, and that’s down to the manager giving the players freedom. Not every game – away from home you have to be cleverer – but at home, in that stadium, if you get the fans going, it changes everything.

I was at the Dortmund game. They went after them, and Dortmund are a good side. Tottenham pressed, showed athleticism, and the fans got behind them. It felt like a different place. I think he’s got to risk losing games by trying to win them, play high-energy football, and get the fans excited.

Do you think that Frank will see out the season?

I think so. I think they’ve had that much change at the football club that to do it again would just take them backwards.

That said, over the next few weeks the fans are going to have to see some performances and some results. I know they’ve got some tough fixtures coming up. If they were to continue not winning games and edging closer towards the bottom, then it might become impossible for the hierarchy to keep him in a job. But at the moment, it feels like they want to stick with him and give him the opportunity to turn it around.

Thomas Frank is saying the right things about meetings and performances. They played well against Dortmund, probably had enough chances to win at Burnley, and fought back after going 2–1 down. You don’t see a group of players who aren’t trying.

You also have to be honest about it. When you’re a club like Tottenham, even though they’ve made signings, if you’re missing Kulusevski, Maddison and Solanke for half a season, you’re taking out two or three of your most creative players. Then you’re asking those further down the pecking order to come in, play consistently and get you results.

The home form is what’s really hurt them. Some of the performances at home against so-called lesser opposition have been really poor. The manager has to take some responsibility for that. You’re the one who sets the tactical plan, you’re the one who motivates the team, and you’ve got to find a way to win games, even if it’s not pretty.

At the moment, I think Tottenham fans feel like they’re watching a team without a clear identity. One week it looks different to the next. Systems change, personnel changes. If over the next few weeks he can nick a couple of results against the bigger teams, maybe a draw and a win, and find some performances that give everyone hope, then I think he’ll be there until the end of the season.

If they were to take a few heavy defeats, lose convincingly, and find themselves a few points off the bottom, then we might be telling a different story.

Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani could both be on the move – how bad is recruitment in North London?

Tottenham have struggled in the transfer market for quite some time, and there haven’t been too many success stories in recent years. So I think there are huge question marks from the supporters and fan base over their recruitment and who’s making the decisions.

Tottenham’s problem is that they’re always trying to improve the squad, but their wage structure doesn’t allow them to compete with the big boys for the very best players. I always think of it as them shopping in a tier-two market rather than tier one, and there are always risks with that. Some players aren’t quite at the top level for a reason, whether that’s mentality or inconsistency of form.

The two you’re talking about are slightly different cases. Tel is a young lad and he’s inconsistent. You could argue he’s never really had a regular run of games to show his worth, but overall, for the money spent, he hasn’t produced enough. And he’s not the only one.

Kolo Muani is a bit different. He came in and had an injury to start with, but he’s shown glimpses of being quite impactful. The problem for him is that there was a spell where the manager decided Richarlison should be ahead of him, and now Solanke’s back. So is he going to get the minutes and the games? Strikers always need momentum and game time to show their worth.

From the outside looking in, I’d actually be keeping Kolo Muani. I think he could play with and back up Solanke. In some games, even though he hasn’t scored many goals, he’s got himself into great positions and he’s a real handful.

More generally, Tottenham’s recruitment can only really be improved if the wage structure changes. Don’t get me wrong, some of the players are earning ridiculous money compared to normal people, but in football terms, players won’t choose Tottenham ahead of Arsenal, City or Liverpool because they’ve got more chance of winning something and they’re getting paid more.

To shift that and bring in one or two really elite players, Tottenham are going to have to be better on the pitch, which hasn’t happened for a while, and they’re also going to have to pay more money. They don’t want to do that.

If Spurs can get one of Omar Marmoush and Savinho, who should they prioritise?

Marmoush, definitely. I don’t think so with Savinho – let him go. I know Marmoush hasn’t played that much this season, but he’s a terrific player. I’m actually really surprised he hasn’t played more.

He can play off the left, he can play centre forward. Marmoush is a player who would definitely get into Tottenham’s team and make them better. I think he walks into their team. He scores goals. He had a great start at City. It’s been a bit stop-start this season, but he gets goals. Tottenham are desperate for goals and creativity, and that’s what he gives you.

Savinho, on the other hand, is a winger. He’s good on the eye, but his end product isn’t particularly great. His numbers aren’t really good, and Tottenham already have quite a few options there. You could argue they’ve got several similar players – you talk about Tel, you talk about Odobert – those quick, exciting wingers who can beat people but sometimes give you a good 20 minutes or a good half, rather than a consistently good game.

Marmoush is a step up. I think he’d be a terrific signing for anyone. He played in the last game and scored, didn’t he? I can’t see City letting him go, though. With City being in all the competitions they are, I’d be amazed if they let him leave.

Fulham

What happened between you and Martin Jol at Fulham?

I’d actually suggested to the CEO at the time, because they’d tried to get him the year before, that I didn’t think he was suited to our squad. Martin Jol is a good guy and a good coach, but he struggles managing senior players. He struggled with communicating with the squad.

But they gave him the job. When I saw him come in, my history with him at Tottenham wasn’t all bad. He signed me there. Things didn’t work out for lots of reasons that weren’t all his fault. My dad got terminally ill and I spent time with him before he passed, and Martin was great through that period. So we didn’t fall out.

When I left Tottenham, he accepted things hadn’t gone well and that I wanted to go and play. There wasn’t bad blood. We just had disagreements while I was there from a footballing point of view.

We were okay. We had a good first season together. He did listen to me at times, asked for my help, and he played me for most of the season. But ultimately, I think he always felt I was too big a character for him.

Between him and the CEO at the time, they manufactured a way to make sure I wasn’t going to stay. I don’t hold bad blood against Martin. I know he was brought into Fulham to try and bring younger players in and lower the age of the squad, but it’s never nice.

Ideally, you want to walk into a new situation with a manager where you feel you’re on the same page. Like when Roy Hodgson came into Fulham, or when Houllier came into Liverpool. You build a bond, a friendship and a trust over time that makes you feel part of it.

With Martin, I was always fighting. I was always trying to prove I should be there, which shouldn’t be the way. At Fulham, I gave them some of my best years and played some of my best football.

I had the same thing with Rafa at Liverpool. It was a bit different with Rafa because he made decisions he felt were for the good of the club. There was no personal element with him. I’ve spoken to Rafa recently and it’s all good . It was horrendous for me to leave but I don’t blame him , he was doing what he thought was best”

“Every manager wants to bring in players they know and trust, and I was just a casualty of that. That’s football. Martin was a bit different because there was personal history, but looking back now, it doesn’t feel as big as it did at the time. It felt bad then, but now you realise football is cynical. Everyone’s trying to look after themselves and do what they can to succeed. You can’t get on with every manager.

I was a player whose relationships with managers were either amazing or not so good. I very rarely sat in the middle. I don’t know why.

Do you think Marco Silva is going to leave in the summer?

I think it’s inevitable he’ll leave, which is a shame for the club because they’re in a really good position in terms of the players they’ve got, the way they play, the stadium and all the improvements there. But like good players, good managers at clubs like Fulham or Palace tend to attract interest. There’ll be plenty of takers for him. My gut feeling has been that if he was going to stay, he’d have signed by now.

What would a new contract for Silva mean for Fulham?

That would be amazing. It would give the club stability and allow him to carry on progressing with his team. The players obviously like him.

I also don’t think he’d agree a new contract unless he got some reassurances about a transfer fund in the summer to improve the squad. He can’t keep working miracles, spending £30–40 million and expecting to do what he’s doing now.

So it would be brilliant news. I hope I’m wrong about him leaving. Sometimes contracts do get signed late, and clubs find a way of agreeing on a pathway forward. But if it happens, it would be the biggest signing Fulham could make in terms of stabilising the club and moving it forward.

Manchester United vs Fulham

Fulham have had a nice run since the middle of December, is Marco Silva getting the best out of his side this season?

They’ve been on a great run. This is only a couple of months after they were hovering towards the bottom and people were asking questions.

I really like Marco Silva. I think he’s done a wonderful job in creating a team that’s good to watch, efficient and competent. It’s amazing considering how little he’s been backed. I think the restrictions he’s had on buying players and improving the squad have been unfair on him, but he’s got on with it without moaning too much. He’s just got on with the coaching.

The team is well structured. Even when they change formation, they look really well drilled. They know what they’re doing when they go to a back three. I know he generally prefers a four, but the players understand it. I can’t think of too many who haven’t improved under him.

The fact he managed to get Fulham’s highest-ever points tally last season, and broke our record actually, which was a bit annoying, is credit to him. Look at what he’s done with Harry Wilson this season. Harry’s never had a season like this. He’s found a position for him, worked on his fitness and given him belief.

Lukic in midfield has improved no end considering he was on the periphery a while ago. Calvin Bassey has become a leader at the back because Marco gives him the belief to play out and do all the things you see him doing. There are so many players who’ve improved under him.

How important is keeping Harry Wilson beyond the summer if Silva & Co want to push on next season?

Absolutely. The way he’s playing, he’s the main man. He’s winning games for them time and time again. He’s a brilliant finisher and he’s playing the best football of his career. He seems happy where he is.

With any footballer, you never really know their financial position or ambitions without knowing them personally. Is Harry Wilson going to go to a bigger club than Fulham and play every week? I don’t think so, and that’s not disrespectful. He just doesn’t quite have the speed and athleticism to be a regular starter at a top-six club now.

There are big teams who would love him as a squad player and pay him accordingly. But family matters too. Is his family happy? Are his kids settled at school? He’s the main man at Fulham, he’s enjoying his football, and there’s a lot to be said for waking up every morning knowing you’re going to play.

I think Fulham will offer him something good enough for him to want to stay. No one would blame him if a bigger club came in and he backed himself to give it a go, but my gut feeling is that Fulham will reward him for this amazing season.

Without his input, they could be in a very different position. His goals aren’t meaningless – they’re winning points time and time again. So my feeling is he’ll stay.

There’s also an argument that he’s thriving under a manager he really believes in. If he thought the manager wasn’t staying, why would he commit? I’ve been at clubs where a new manager comes in and your face doesn’t fit overnight. That can happen.

It’s unlikely a new manager would come in, watch the footage and decide Harry Wilson isn’t for them, but some managers prefer more athletic, dynamic players. Harry’s more of a clever, intelligent footballer. So it’ll be interesting to see. But if Marco Silva signs, I think it massively increases the chances of Harry Wilson staying too.

Fulham have only won twice at Old Trafford since the turn of the century, does that kind of history at a ground make a difference for players?

I think it can, especially for players who’ve been at a club a long time. We used to struggle at Chelsea when I was at Liverpool, and each time you went back there, by the third, fourth, fifth time, you’d be thinking, “Oh no, here we go again.”

Ironically, I remember us winning at Chelsea when we had loads of players missing. Gerrard was missing, Owen was missing. A lot of our best players were out. You went onto the pitch thinking, “What can we do here?” and we managed to nick a win. I think Bruno Cheyrou scored the winner, or someone like that. We had a really random team that day and got the win, which kind of put it to bed.

If you’re at a club a long time and you keep getting beaten at the same place, it can get in your head. But for Fulham right now, because they’re playing so well, confidence is high, and they’ve got quite a few players who haven’t been there that long, I don’t think it’ll be a big problem.

United also aren’t what they once were. They’ve had two amazing results, so the players will be aware of that. But Fulham have shown plenty of times this season that they can give big teams a game, so I don’t see the history being a major issue for this fixture.

As a player, you do sometimes think about timing. There are moments when you play teams at a good or bad time. Going to United after what they did yesterday, you might think it’s going to be tougher than anticipated – the fans will be bouncing, the players will have a spring in their step.

But with United, you never quite know. They can have a couple of outstanding games and then lose to a lesser team. Fulham will have belief. They’re on a great run.

It should be a really good game, actually, because Fulham never shut up shop. They’re not pragmatic. They’ll try to have a go at United, which should make it a really exciting match.

What have you made of Michael Carrick’s start in charge of United? Does he have a genuine chance to get the job full time?

Incredible start, an amazing start. And I’m pleased for him in many ways, even putting the United–Liverpool rivalry to one side. I played with Michael briefly at Tottenham and he’s a really thoughtful guy, a nice guy. I like his calmness. He seems completely at ease being in the hot seat, and I like the way he’s conducted himself in the media.

The emotion doesn’t get the better of him. He doesn’t get embroiled in loaded questions or dragged into things people say about him. He’s grounded, and I’ve always believed that rubs off on players. Two of my best managers, Houllier and Roy Hodgson, were calm nearly all the time, and that calmness transfers to the players. It gives you belief in the person leading you.

By all accounts, the players are enjoying training and enjoying what they’re doing. He’s done really well. Of course, results determine the narrative for any manager. They could easily have drawn against City or Arsenal, or even lost while playing well, and the praise wouldn’t be quite as strong. But you can sense his belief in himself.

He doesn’t look perplexed in interviews, like a rabbit in the headlights, which we’ve seen from others at times. You don’t see that with Michael. It’s only two games, but they’ve got a very good run of fixtures coming up. United could theoretically win the next four or five, and suddenly the conversation becomes whether he gets the job full-time. That’s only a good thing for Michael, because even if he doesn’t get it, it raises his stock.

Premier League

Do you worry for Jadon Sancho’s career?

I wouldn’t say I’m worried about his career, because he’s talented enough to get a good club and do good things. He’s got super talent.

You could argue there’s disappointment from the outside that his potential hasn’t been fulfilled yet. A few years ago he looked like a superstar, and for whatever reason that talent hasn’t quite come to the fore consistently. Especially at United, he didn’t hit the heights people expected.

But he’s shown glimpses in a Chelsea shirt and a Villa shirt that he’s still got plenty. His performance at Newcastle the other day was really good. If prospective buyers are looking at him, there’s a player there.

So I still think he’s capable of having a really good career somewhere. He just needs the right fit, the right manager, somewhere he can thrive and get back to the levels he was at.

There are question marks about his discipline and professionalism, and that’s down to him. You mature as a footballer each season. I look back at what I was doing at 23 or 24 compared to 33 and I’d change things, do things differently. He’s probably learning on the job as well.

People forget that when you get stardom, money and fame at a young age, not everyone handles it brilliantly. He could yet have an Indian summer, a better second half of his career than the first, because the talent is there.

So no, I’m not overly concerned for him. I just hope he kicks on and gets back to the levels we all know he can reach.

Do you think Enzo Maresca is the right replacement for Pep Guardiola?

I don’t necessarily think that would be good for City. I still think he’s in the infancy of his managerial journey.

He was fortunate to get the Chelsea job from Leicester, thrust into a huge football club, and he did all right. He had some success, the team played okay, won a couple of trophies, players progressed. But his fragility and inability to deal with the enormity of the situation were there for all to see. Speaking out about the owners, some of the stories you hear about what went on behind the scenes.

That’s fine, because managers, like players, learn on the job. But to then be thrust into Manchester City, a club that expects to win leagues and Champions Leagues every season, competing at the elite level with superstars in the squad, I think there are better candidates.

Any manager worth his salt would win games at Manchester City, but there’s a difference between winning games and winning the biggest trophies. Regardless of Maresca’s history at City, I don’t think that would be a good appointment.

Do Chelsea need to qualify for the Champions League to keep hold of Cole Palmer?

No, because they’ve got him under a long-term contract, so they can keep him either way. But qualifying for the Champions League would make it much easier to quieten the noise around other clubs trying to get him.

It would definitely help. This season hasn’t been as fruitful as he’d like because of injuries and getting back to form. He’s had this nagging thigh or groin problem, whatever it is. But he’s a special player.

The way football works, if you’re a player of that quality and you’ve always had a love for a particular club, it’s not a huge stretch to imagine things lining up. Especially if United were to go on a run. A lot of Chelsea fans think the club is more of a business than a football project, so could I see Cole Palmer leaving for Manchester United? Yes, I could.

I wouldn’t want it to happen, but I could see it. Bruno Fernandes needs a successor. He’ll get through the groin problem. He’ll be fine.

Should Harvey Elliot make the move to the MLS this January?

Yes, I do think Harvey Elliot should really consider his options, even the MLS. Harvey Elliott is a super talent. He’s got a great attitude and we’ll definitely see him playing in the Premier League and succeeding.

It obviously hasn’t worked at Villa, and sometimes that happens. A manager doesn’t see you the same way you see yourself, or doesn’t see you in the roles you feel suit you. If he only sees him as a number ten, which seems to be the case, then you’re competing with Morgan Rogers, a resurgent Buendía, and there are financial considerations when you’re bringing him on as a substitute. It’s not ideal, but these things happen and you put it down to experience.

Harvey Elliott is a goal threat. He makes things happen. He’s brave, can play in lots of positions, has a good mindset and a good family around him. By all accounts he’s a really good trainer. Even Emery has said that despite not being in the team, he’s done the right things. You don’t hear him whining in the papers.

He’s got years ahead of him. I know he was bitterly disappointed not to make more of an impact, especially at Liverpool, the club he grew up supporting and loves, but he’s still got a big future. This will make him stronger.

Wherever he ends up, I think he’ll be a success. Playing games, enjoying your football again, building fitness and getting used to being on the pitch regularly will do him the world of good.

Which club has impressed with recruitment?

On recruitment, let me think. I’ve got Arsenal in my head. At the moment you’d have to say Arsenal, because what they’ve done is establish a squad of two teams, really, in competition all over the place, which can only be partially equal to – though not quite to the same level as – Man City. When you think about what Liverpool have spent and the problems they’ve got, not being able to bring on a central defender at the weekend, whereas Arsenal have got four, probably five if you throw Ben White into the equation with Mosquera and Hincapie – I think he’s been the smartest addition. They’ve got competition in fullback areas. Myles Lewis-Skelly was England’s number one and is now probably Arsenal’s number three behind Calafiori, and Hincapie played there yesterday. There’s just an abundance of talent in forward areas.

They’ve not necessarily done as much as maybe some of the fans anticipated, but what they’ve done is create a squad that’s able to compete on four fronts. So in terms of recruitment, maybe not even just over this window but over a period of 12 to 18 months, they’ve been patient and established this squad. That gives everybody the feeling they’re going to be competitive in every competition and, theoretically, could win two or three of them. I think it’s fair to say Arsenal have been really cute and clever in the market, and patient.

Which summer recruit has not impressed you this season?

Well, Isak, for obvious reasons. I know he had a slow start and then the injury, but if you take away the injury, then I think there’s probably disappointment behind Gyokeres for Arsenal in terms of the expectation that was there for him to be the missing piece. I wouldn’t say he’s been a disaster – he’s done okay – but I think Arsenal fans expected a lot more. When you’re spending that type of money, as Liverpool fans know, you want them to hit the ground running; you don’t want to be patient. So between Isak and Gyokeres, with the expectation and anticipation around both of them and their seasons to come, most Arsenal and Liverpool fans feel a little bit like that. “Let down” is the wrong word. I’d say they feel disappointed in what they’ve been given back.

Is Declan Rice the most complete midfielder in Europe right now?

Yes, Declan Rice is the most complete midfielder in Europe at the moment. I think he has amazing versatility in being able to do nearly all aspects of the game. I think he personally would want to contribute more goals and assists because he knows he’s capable. I say assists – I mean he gets a lot of assists from corners – but I mean in open play as well. That’s one area of the game he’s really trying hard to improve, because we know technically he’s very good and when he gets in positions he can score, and he should be scoring more with the ability he’s got, especially as he’s been given more of a free licence with Zubamendi behind him.

But he’s one of those blessed footballers that don’t come along very often, with this wonderful physicality, pace, strength and endurance, matched with a real technical gift – keeping the ball well, playing with both feet, great on set plays, a good passer of the ball. That’s why so many people admire him and compare him to some of the greats of the past. I think he’s still got a bit of a way to go, in terms of being in a winning team and getting his team over the line, to be compared to some of the very top players of the past.

But he’s certainly on the right pathway.

I always watch him and think he’s the type of midfielder you’d hate to play against, because when he’s bearing down on you to pressure, you know you’re in trouble. He does it with such discipline and such pace. And when he’s got the ball, very rarely do you see Declan Rice lose it or lose his awareness of where he is on the pitch. He’s just a phenomenal talent.

In a way it’s a difficult one, because he could easily be our best holding midfielder for England and the best number eight. So really, you want two of him.

We had a similar problem, in a way, with Gerrard. When Gerrard first came into the Liverpool team, people talked about him being the holding midfielder, sitting there forever, spraying the ball about and doing his defensive work with his physicality. Then he grew into a more attacking player, as you know, someone who in the second half of his career was never defensively minded. I think Declan’s probably trying to get to that level now.

What does Declan need to do to put himself in the same bracket as legendary PL midfielders like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard?

For Declan Rice to be spoken of in the same breath as a Gerrard or a Lampard, he needs to win the big ones, and he also needs to have the magic moments more often, like he did against Real Madrid. When you think of Liverpool and Chelsea, and Lampard and Gerrard over the years, you can just pick moments – big games, big goals. Lampard against Barcelona. Cup finals. Gerrard in cup finals, European finals. The best players produce those magic moments to get the team over the line.

Even after I left, you had Stevie with the West Ham game and Istanbul. But even when I was there, Stevie scored in a UEFA Cup final, a League Cup final against Man United. I’m talking about pivotal moments that people just remember, the ones that got your team over the line. I think that’s where Declan needs to get to be in that conversation, for sure.

Career Questions

Was there a club you almost joined?

I was probably more of a technical player than a physical one, so I understand the argument. There’s a case to say that might have been appreciated more in different countries.

Yes, I did have an opportunity. When Gérard Houllier became manager of Lyon, I’d not long moved from Liverpool to Charlton. I spoke to him and they were a Champions League side at the time, challenging for the title every season. I really wanted to make it happen and I probably regret that I couldn’t.

The irony is the only way I could have made it happen would have been by forcing a move. At Charlton, to be fair, I was getting on great with Curbs. We had a good group of lads, they made me feel really welcome and rolled out the red carpet to get me there. I respected that and I couldn’t be the instigator of a move, even though looking back now I probably should have been.

What do you remember of your string of Old Trafford winners?

Quite surreal, really. Obviously it’s the biggest game in the calendar. Growing up as a Liverpool fan, I understood the rivalry more than most. My first ever Liverpool game was against Man United at Anfield in 1984–85, when Frank Stapleton scored the winner. I’ve hated United ever since.

It’s not that you try harder, but you understand the importance. When I got the first winner there, I don’t think we’d won at Old Trafford for about ten years. It was an amazing feeling. First, because we put that record to bed, and second because I was the goalscorer. Given how big the game was for everyone, including me, it was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had leaving a match. We had a great night afterwards with a lot of friends and a lot of pints.

When it happened the second time, it got even bigger. There was this narrative of, “He’s done it again.” Liverpool fans loved me even more because of it. That second one, when Stevie played me in and I chipped Barthez late on, was another special moment. It came during a period when I’d been having a slightly poor run and had taken a bit of stick. That goal put it to bed.

Phil Thompson was managing at the time because Gérard Houllier wasn’t well. Me, Thommo and Stevie went over to the fans afterwards and they were singing my name. Individually, that was as good a moment as I can remember in football, because it felt like I was truly accepted.

The third one was almost a joke. Everyone was laughing in the dressing room afterwards. I’ll never forget it mainly because Michael Owen was on penalties at the time, even though he’d missed a few. We got a penalty in the second half, Stevie was brought down, and Michael gave me the nod to take it. He’d never done that before. There was no time to think about it. I scored and we won, and everyone was just saying, “What is going on?”

I remember seeing Sir Alex Ferguson at a charity event a couple of years later and he had a word with me, jokingly but very pointedly. He told me exactly what he thought of me, which was a compliment really. It just shows how big that fixture is.

I’ve travelled the world since football, been very lucky, but wherever I go, someone always comes up to me about one of those United goals. One of the best Liverpool goals I ever scored was the winner at Goodison, and nobody’s ever asked me about it. That tells you everything about the level and importance of that rivalry.

Quick Predictions

Brighton vs Everton

Brighton are a bit difficult to judge at the moment. They play some good football but they’re really struggling. There’s an opportunity for Everton there. Moyes knows how to set teams up away from home, we saw that at Villa.

I think it’ll be tight, but Brighton will get back to winning ways. I’ll go Brighton 1–0.

Leeds vs Arsenal

I expect a reaction from Arsenal. I don’t think that United result will derail them. They’ll go there with a point to prove. I’m going to go Arsenal 2–0.

Wolves vs Bournemouth

That could be any score. I love watching Bournemouth play. They’re dynamic, they try to win every game home and away, but they do leave themselves open. Wolves are gaining confidence.

I’ll go Bournemouth 3–2.

Chelsea vs West Ham

I think Chelsea will have too much for West Ham, especially at home. They’re on a good run. West Ham have turned a corner a bit, but going to Chelsea is a big ask. I’ll say Chelsea 2–0. Too much firepower.

Liverpool vs Newcastle

Newcastle are struggling on the road. Liverpool are in desperate need of a result. It’s a huge game for Arne Slot. At Anfield, with the fans behind them and a point to prove, I’ll go Liverpool 2–1.

Villa vs Brentford

What a breath of fresh air Brentford have been. Keith Andrews has done a great job. But Villa at home have only lost once, or maybe twice, all season.

Brentford are brilliant at home but not as strong away. I think Villa will have too much. Villa 2–0.

Manchester United vs Fulham

Do I have to? I just think United are on a crest of a wave. The fans are behind them, players are fit again, there’s competition for places high up the pitch. I’ll go United 3–1.

Forest vs Palace

That’ll be tight. Palace are desperate for a result. Forest, we know, have had some strong results recently. I’ll go Forest 1–0.

Manchester City vs Spurs

I don’t see Spurs being able to stop City scoring. City look a bit vulnerable defensively at the moment, but they’ll still have too much. I’ll go City 3–0.

Sunderland vs Burnley

That’ll be tight because Burnley will give them respect. Sunderland have a great home record. I think Sunderland will bounce back from a poor result and performance at West Ham. I’ll go Sunderland 1–0.

The Team Behind This Interview

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