Stephen Warnock: I can only see Arsenal beating Liverpool

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has told NewBettingSites.uk that he thinks Arsenal will win against Liverpool in Thursday’s Premier League game.

Speaking to NewBettingSites.uk, Warnock said: “I don’t see Liverpool beating Arsenal on Thursday, not with the way things have been going. They looked shy in front of goal against both Leeds and Fulham and their wide players don’t have the confidence to beat defenders.

“When I look at the game, I can only see an Arsenal victory. Arsenal will have to change tactics because Liverpool can be an annoying team to play against but that said, Liverpool need to be careful because there’s the potential for a heavy scoreline. They’ve looked very vulnerable at the back.

“Liverpool don’t have a definitive player to rely on. Cody Gakpo hasn’t exactly been prolific, although he did score the other day, but he’s been quite predictable. Liverpool need more goals from midfield. Dominik Szoboszlai has been fantastic all season but he doesn’t score that many goals or assist that many, either.

“Liverpool’s midfielders need to step up. Even from set pieces, the two centre-backs need to get involved and score a couple of goals between now and the end of the season. Liverpool have been so vulnerable at the back and Ibrahima Konate doesn’t look like he can handle the ball over the top, he looks weak when that happens.”

Liverpool need Salah more than ever

Speaking on Liverpool’s shortcomings this season, Warnock believes the club is in need of Mohamed Salah more than ever after his recent form at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Warnock added: “You’d like to think that Liverpool are still in contention in the Premier League, but this isn’t the Liverpool team we’ve seen in recent years, and I do attribute a lot of that to injuries. It’s good to see that Mohamed Salah is scoring at the Africa Cup of Nations, so hopefully he’ll be on a high when he returns to Anfield after that.

“Liverpool need Salah more than ever at the moment. They need his durability and reliability in the Premier League and they need him fit and available. When I think of the players that are due to come back, they should be getting into the top four when the season ends.”

Liverpool need a winger like Diaz

Warnock thinks Liverpool need to strengthen on the wing, at right-back and at centre-back in the January window.

He said: “Liverpool need to look at a right-back in January as Conor Bradley is injured far too often. His injury record isn’t good enough and Jeremie Frimpong has been sidelined, too.

“When I watch Manchester City and Arsenal, it’s evident what they’ve got in abundance; wide players that can beat people. Liverpool got rid of Luis Diaz and they’re crying out for a player like him at the moment. They need someone who can change a game single-handedly.

“When they had Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Salah, Mane was the one that could change the game. Everyone thinks it was Salah, but it wasn’t. Mane would grab the game by the scruff of the neck and beat people individually.

“Liverpool are missing that, they need a winger who takes people on and can beat one, two or three players. They need to create havoc in the backline and shake them up which creates opportunities for everyone else on the pitch.

“I was gutted when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went to Paris Saint-Germain, he was the kind of player that would’ve been absolutely ideal for Liverpool. He’s exactly the type of player they need. Whether Liverpool get someone like that remains to be seen.

“Anfield chiefs need another plan if they’re not going for Marc Guehi who’s a leader and captain. That tells you the kind of player he is and the respect he has in the changing room, a man who sets the standard. You can read a lot into why someone is a captain.”