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Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has insisted Liverpool’s win over Tottenham proves they are still in the Premier League title race.
After a 482-minute goal drought, Jurgen Klopp’s side put Spurs to the sword in north London, making the most of defensive lapses.
Victory, thanks to goals from Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane, sees the Reds move fourth in the table and just four points off top spot, despite their huge dip in form.
Another defensive injury to Joel Matip will be a worry for the Anfield side, already without Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, but even so, their attacking talent look back in the swing of things.
Firmino buzzed between the lines, Mane gave Tottenham defenders nightmares all match, while Mohamed Salah would also have had a goal were it not for VAR pulling play back for a handball.
And Ferdinand was a captivated spectator and full of belief they are back in the battle to retain the trophy they won last summer.
“Liverpool definitely needed this result,” he said on BT Sport. “I think everyone has been on their case.
“‘Is their season over in terms of challenging?’ I think they have answered that emphatically tonight.
“Yes, they were given some gifts tonight but you’ve got to be there to take them. They punished this Spurs team and Liverpool are going to be there or thereabouts.
“When you have got a strikeforce like this, yes they have had a bit of a blip in form, a little downturn in form in front of goal, but these guys are seasoned at knowing how to be around the top of the Premier League.
“They are going to be a force and, yes, they’re missing main cogs in the backline, that’s an issue; but when you have these types of strikers that may gain confidence again from this, you’re always going to be in with a chance in every 90 minutes you go out there.”
Ex-Red Peter Crouch was also in the studio and admitted his feeling has never faded that Liverpool are in the hunt, despite the change in fortunes, and revealed he’d made a bet about their league performance with Ferdinand prior to the game.
He added: “I believed it when they were still going through this bad spell. I had a little bet with Rio last night. I still think they will finish above United. I think they’re still in the title hunt.
“I think they have got some top players. I thought Henderson dropping into centre-back tonight was fantastic and, yeah, it’s going to be a struggle at times because Nat Phillips had to come on and I’m not sure what happened with Matip.
“They’re definitely struggling in that area, but when you’ve got the attacking talent they have on display you cannot write them off.”
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