Roy Keane was spot on after Graeme Souness riled him with Liverpool comment
Manchester United legend Roy Keane got into a fiery argument with fellow pundit Graeme Souness when it came to discussing Liverpool ’s greatness in the 2020 season, but he may well feel vindicated after the Reds’ last few seasons.
Jurgen Klopp's side followed up their 2019 Champions League triumph with a phenomenal start to the 2019-20 season. A 2-0 victory over Manchester United in January made it 21 wins from a possible 22 in the league, with Klopp’s men also topping their Champions League group, and a first league title in 30 years was all but a done deal.
Before moving into punditry, Souness won five league titles with Liverpool and spent time as their manager in the early 90s. He was glowing in his assessment of the Merseyside club as they marched towards a first league title under Klopp, but Keane was having none of it.
“They have been brilliant in Europe over the past few years, and everyone's been getting carried away with them because they are so brilliant,” Keane said of Liverpool while on Sky Sports duty. "But this will be their first league title. You've got to win a few league titles first.”
Souness fired back at his fellow pundit, pointing to back-to-back European finals before the league run, as well as their 97-point tally as they narrowly missed out on the title in 2019. "They are bordering on being that [great] when you look at their consistency,” he said.
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"Second last year, they would have won it in any other year. Losing in the Champions League final to poor goalkeeping [in 2018]. They're close to being a great team."
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The debate came after Liverpool beat Manchester United during their 2019-20 title-winning campaign (Getty Images)Keane won multiple Premier League titles himself, and secured a Treble success with Manchester United in 1999. He may well have felt he was well-placed to rule on what a great team looks like, and he was in no mood to cede ground to Souness.
“Close? You said they finished second. It doesn't matter how many points you get you finished second. Do me a favour," the Irish international said.
Liverpool managed to seal the top spot in 2020, with their 99-point tally more than United have ever achieved in the Premier League. They are still waiting for a second league title, though, with recent seasons showing how tough it is to reach greatness - especially with a rival as strong as Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Liverpool have yet to add a second Premier League title, though they came close in 2022 (Getty Images)Liverpool’s title defence was immediately hindered by a long-term injury for Virgil van Dijk and further defensive setbacks which left them with a makeshift pairing of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams for stretches of the campaign. They clambered to third after taking 26 points from their last 10 games but fell out of the title race around the turn of the year and were never close to returning.
The following season brought something approaching a recovery, but City’s continued brilliance ensured their quadruple hopes fell agonisingly short. Four trophies in one season might have left Keane eating his words, but a final-day comeback from Guardiola’s men saw them finish on 93 points to Liverpool’s 92, while Vinicius Junior settled a tight Champions League final in Real Madrid ’s favour as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept the Reds at bay.
Yet again, the 2022-23 season saw a high followed by a dip, with Klopp's team unable to even land a top-four finish. They have rediscovered some form this time around, sitting one point off the summit of the Premier League, but last season's struggles mean they'll have to wait for another crack at Champions League football.
Contrast this with the Liverpool of Souness' playing days, or the United which had Keane as captain. Both teams succeeded not just in securing dominance over one or two years, but rather across an extended period.
There is, of course, the City caveat. Guardiola's side have raised the standard to a point where points tallies which might have brought titles in previous years now aren't enough, and incredible levels of consistency are required.
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Keane and Souness might both consider themselves to have become vindicated, with Liverpool boasting another season with more than 90 Premier League points and reaching another Champions League final, but failing to take that next step. From Keane's point of view, though, that consistency required to label the Reds a truly 'great' side hasn't been forthcoming.
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