Liverpool favourites to win the Premier League AND Champions League, claims Peter Crouch

Liverpool are favourites to win the Premier League AND Champions League, claims Peter Crouch… while Joe Cole insists only injuries will hold Jurgen Klopp’s men back from silverware after win at Atletico Madrid


Liverpool are favourites to complete an historic Premier League and Champions League double, according to former striker Peter Crouch.

The Reds made it three Champions League Group B wins out of three after Mohamed Salah’s double either side of Naby Keita’s strike saw them beat Atletico Madrid – who had Antoine Griezmann sent off in the second half – in the Spanish capital.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp’s men – who sit just a point behind leaders Chelsea in the top flight after eight games – extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 21 games on Tuesday evening.

Liverpool are favourites to win the Premier League and Champions League, says Peter Crouch

Mohamed Salah's double inspired the Reds to a 3-2 victory away at Atletico Madrid

Mohamed Salah’s double inspired the Reds to a 3-2 victory away at Atletico Madrid

Their latest victory came at the Wanda Metropolitano, the ground where they won their last European crown more than two years ago, 12 months before they would go on to claim their first league title in 30 years.

And Sportsmail‘s Crouch –  who scored 42 goals in 134 Reds appearances – now believes the current side has the strength to win those same trophies but in the same season.

‘I think we saw a few weaknesses tonight,’ Crouch told BT Sport after Liverpool’s 3-2 win against Atletico. ‘Keita scored a fantastic goal tonight but they look a lot more solid when Fabinho is in the team. 

‘I felt like the high line was too high. I felt there was times Griezmann ran in behind from his own half. 

The win came on the same ground where the Reds won the 2019 Champions League final

The win came on the same ground where the Reds won the 2019 Champions League final

That silverware came 12 months before they ended the club's 30-year wait for a league title

That silverware came 12 months before they ended the club’s 30-year wait for a league title

‘With it being that high, you think later on in Champions League when you’ve got [Kylian] Mbappe, [Lionel] Messi and Neymar [at PSG] running at you, the kind of pace they have, when you play that high it’s going to be difficult. 

‘But I still feel they’re the best team, I think they are favourites to win the Champions League and favourites to win the Premier League.’

Former Reds midfielder Joe Cole agreed with his ex-England team-mate, claiming the four English teams in the competition ‘have never been so strong’, and believes Liverpool’s quest for glory will only be derailed by injuries.

Klopp suffered long-term injuries to centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez last season, and Cole claims only an unfortunate repeat of that situation could stop the Anfield side from winning silverware this term.

But former Reds striker Crouch said the current side can win both trophies in the same season

But former Reds striker Crouch said the current side can win both trophies in the same season

‘I agree, I said at the start of the year the English teams are favourite for the Champions League and I stand by that,’ Cole said.

‘I think Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool more likely than Manchester United. But if it clicks at Manchester United then they will be up there. 

‘The four English teams have never been that strong. Liverpool got through a very good Atletico Madrid team, not played at their best and came away with a victory.

‘I don’t think there are any weaknesses in this team. The only thing I can think of will hold them back is they got injuries like last year.’

Joe Cole also believes Liverpool's quest will only be derailed by injuries like they had last year

Joe Cole also believes Liverpool’s quest will only be derailed by injuries like they had last year

Advertisement