Michael Owen says James Milner and Jordan Henderson are better options in midfield than Fabinho, Naby Keita and Harvey Elliott following Liverpool’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.
The former England striker slammed Fabinho as ‘really average’ for Jurgen Klopp’s side, and how Keita ‘isn’t good enough’ for the Reds, whilst he felt that teenager Elliott gave the ball away more times than he kept it against Palace.
After being humbled by Real Madrid in midweek during their Champions League thrashing, the performance yesterday was one of a team very low on confidence.
The Palace XI that was put out by Patrick Vieira had eight goals between them, if Klopp’s side faced a much better and attack-free side, then they could have easily been taken apart again.
Joel Matip was nervous in possession, Trent Alexander-Arnold was having more problems in defence and near-on every player just couldn’t stop losing the ball.
Owen made it clear that the best two for the job are the ageing duo of Milner, who is 37, and Henderson, who turns 33 in June, as he told Premier League Productions (25/02/23 at 10:00 pm).
“The leadership quality over the years has been very evident for Liverpool,” said Owen. “I think it was no surprise that he put a lot of experienced players on the pitch, especially after the loss against Real Madrid.
“It’s also an area (the midfield) that will be changing soon. James Milner can’t go on forever. Jordan Henderson can’t go on forever. I think that area of the pitch is going to need a bit of surgery and I think it’s going to happen in the summer – everyone can see it. Jurgen Klopp can see it.
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“People talk about the age of the midfield there, whether Milner or Henderson should be replaced. They are still their best players in there – people say they are too old, but they are still the best players.
“Fabinho has been average this season. Really average. Harvey Elliott, when he came on at half-time, he give the ball away more than he kept it. Naby Keita is just not good enough for a midfielder, in my opinion, for Liverpool. It’s alright fans saying ‘we need to change Henderson. We need to change Milner and get a new youngster in’.
“But they are actually the best of what Liverpool have got, at the moment. It might be the others that need to be changed. Considering their age, they have been doing a sterling job and have been for a long, long time.”
A POINT GAINED?
It’s crazy to think, but in the grand scheme of things, it was probably a point gained for Liverpool at Selhurst Park.
Given the troubles the Merseyside giants have faced, fans aren’t learning anything new about their abject performances and defensive collapses.
But that performance at Palace was one full of errors and a team devoid of any belief, confidence, rhythm and positive vibes, so take the plus of a point and a clean sheet.
In other news, Tottenham eye Spalletti: Move could see Spurs finally sign ‘sensational’ £43m star
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