Daniel Sturridge and Gary Neville engaged in a spirited debate about Liverpool’s challenging season during a Sky Sports segment before the match against Arsenal.
In analyzing Liverpool’s decline after their Premier League triumph last season, Sturridge highlighted several contributing factors. He mentioned key player departures over the summer and the unfortunate passing of Diogo Jota, which have significantly impacted the team’s performance.
With Liverpool now effectively out of the title race, the club is shifting its focus and priorities as the season progresses.
Neville speculated that perhaps Liverpool relaxed after reaching the pinnacle by winning the league. He suggested, “They got to the top of the mountain, won the league, and then (exhales), ‘We did it,’ and they basically relaxed. That’s what happened. Are we questioning their mentality, or are we considering other factors? There’s a part of me that thinks they might have thought they’d accomplished their goal.”
Sturridge disagreed, countering, “No. Luis Diaz was one of their best players last season.”
Daniel Sturridge (centre) and Gary Neville (left) were involved in a terse exchange on Sky
Neville said: ‘They sold him!’
‘You’ve said it’s a mystery, I’m giving you the solution to the mystery,’ Sturridge replied.
‘Luis Diaz was the best attacker from last season. Salah set all the record, Diaz was tenacious up front, pressing, scoring goals creating chances.
‘Trent Alexander-Arnold was the most creative right back we’ve seen in the last 15 years in the Premier League.
‘He doesn’t play for the club anymore, we’re talking about two key players that aren’t at the football club. Qarrell Quansah, centre-back, when Konate and Virgil weren’t playing well, Quansah was there. He doesn’t play for the football club anymore.
Neville interjected: ‘I’m not buying that.’
Sturridge went on: ‘It’s the truth, Gary. It’s the truth whether you like it or not. Particular players, the players who they’ve signed, Ekitike has hit the ground running. Isak hasn’t hit the ground running, Ekitike is not here tonight.
‘He’s been the best attacker for the club, scored the most goals, been the most consistent.
‘All in all, when you look at the squad and look at last season to this season there’s a big difference. They’ve lost key players. The players who have come in haven’t performed to the level of the players they lost.’
Neville claimed that Liverpool rested on their laurels after winning the Premier League
Roy Keane was watching the exchange with interest in the studio and sided with Neville in claiming Arne Slot’s men have been ‘poor champions’.
He said: ‘They’ve been poor champions, when you play for big clubs and win the title it is always about what you do the following season.
‘When they won it four or five years ago, the following year they were way off it as well, there will be reasons for it, injuries and recruitment.
‘To be so far off it, 14 points worse off than they were last year, that’s a big drop off. You face problems as champions, injuries, setbacks or whatever and I just think they’ve not done the hard yards.’
Sturridge argued: ‘You’ve just made the case, if you want to say that, you can’t negate the fact they’ve lost players they’ve spent money on, of course Diogo Jota, God rest his soul, we’re looking at a different team a different philosophy.’
