Great Dane Jan still backing Reds for trophy
Liverpool’s backs are against the wall in the Champions League, but Jan Molby refuses to rule them out as potential winners.
They go into their final group game on Tuesday night, knowing that anything less than a victory over Napoli and they will be out.
Even then, a one-goal victory of 2-1 or more may not be enough, if Paris St-Germain win away to Red Star Belgrade.
So it’s set up for another blockbuster European night at Anfield.
If the Reds can squeeze past Napoli, Molby insists there is no reason they cannot challenge for both that and the Premier League after Christmas.
“I happen to think Liverpool have a chance of winning both those trophies,” says the Dane.
“If they get through the group stages, no one will be queuing up to play them in the knockout stages, believe me.
“I just think the pressure they are putting themselves under by going for it on both fronts is helping them.
“I know why they’ve done it, because they do not want to set low goals. But you put demands on yourself, too.
“They are looking at themselves and thinking they are ready to win the Premier League.
“But then you look at Manchester City and teams in the Champions League, and perhaps they will not get there as quickly as they want.
“They are unlucky to have City, but you have to deal with that challenge.
“Liverpool must concentrate on themselves and forget about City.
“It is going to be a massive ask. But they have made a good start and if they can find an extra 10% then it is definitely game on.”
The area where Liverpool can find that extra edge is in midfield.
The defence has been excellent and everyone knows what the front three can do, but for Molby, the midfield has not quite kicked on.
“The club invested heavily in midfield to give us more options but Naby Keita and Fabinho have not lived up to our expectations,” he says.
“It’s a bit unfair as maybe they need time, but the truth remains for Liverpool to have continued upward progression from last season, these two should have done more.
“The forwards have been isolated a bit this season. You look at where Manchester City go. They get David Silva to involve the forwards and Spurs have Christian Eriksen.
“The plan has been for Keita or Xherdan Shaqiri to do that, but it has not quite come off.”