Daily Star Sunday

Beglin’s backing a Klopp revival

- EXCLUSIVE by HARRY PRATT

LIVERPOOL will be back contesting the Premier League title this time next year.

That’s the emphatic prediction of ex-Anfield defender Jim Beglin, as Jurgen Klopp’s dethroned champions attempt to finish a desperate campaign on a high.

Getting into the top four is the best Liverpool can hope for now after another bad week.

Wednesday’s 3-1 aggregate defeat in Europe by Real Madrid, following a 0-0 draw at Anfield, ended any hopes of silverware for the Merseyside­rs.

Yet despite the Reds’ title defence long being in tatters – they are 22 points behind leaders Man City – Beglin is convinced it will be a very different picture in 12 months.

Ahead of Liverpool’s trip tomorrow to another of his old clubs Leeds, the ex-Republic of Ireland ace said:

“The result against Madrid certainly clears things up in terms of focus.

“The top four is all that’s on the table now. But I genuinely believe Liverpool will be contending again next season.

“Once everything is in order, and Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are fit again, they will be up there probably with Manchester City and United.”

As for Leeds’ exploits under Marcelo Bielsa, Beglin is hugely impressed.

The former Elland Road right-back, 57, said: “Bielsa doesn’t have a Plan B. He’s seemingly obsessed with bettering Plan A. I was at Anfield when they lost 4-3.

“It looked like being a goal-crazy roller coaster – and it’s lived up to expectatio­ns.”

 ??  ?? KOP IDOL: Jim Beglin
ALL YOUR OTHER SUNDAY & MONDAY PREM PREVIEWS: See RESULT! Pages 8-11
KOP IDOL: Jim Beglin ALL YOUR OTHER SUNDAY & MONDAY PREM PREVIEWS: See RESULT! Pages 8-11

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