Liverpool
Liverpool

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness had the last and the loudest laugh over fellow pundits Roy Keane and Gary Neville when his prediction that Liverpool would ‘set a marker down’ against Manchester United came true in a huge way. As the first half ended with Jurgen Klopp’s team leading 1-0, the second half saw them rumble to a 7-0 victory. As a result of Saturday’s defeats of their rivals to European places Newcastle and Tottenham, the win puts them firmly in the running for a top-four finish.

Even though there was a disparity in the standings between the two sides prior to the game, Souness, who appeared more than 350 times for Liverpool in the 1970s and 1980s, was utterly confident of three points. The former Scotland midfielder saw his conviction in the Reds validated as they rammed over United, despite the doubts of his fellow pundits and ex-Red Devils Roy Keane and Gary Neville.

Liverpool
It was a shambolic performance from Manchester United at Anfield as they lost 7-0 to Liverpool. Credits: Twitter

Keane and Neville left red faced as Souness’ Liverpool prediction comes true

Souness was full of confidence prior to the game that his former side will turn up against their fierce rivals in a bid to overturn their ailing form and resurrect their top four hopes. Former Man United captains Keane and Neville however seemed to disagree with Souness’ claims as they sarcastically laughed-off their fellow pundit’s comments. In Sky Sports’ build-up to the game at Anfield, Souness had said:

“I think where Liverpool are right now, this game comes at the perfect time. What an opportunity to put a marker down, to shut all the doubting Thomases up and damage United. I fully expect them to turn up today. And it’s a long time, Kelly [Cates, Sky Sports presenter], since I’ve been as confident about a Liverpool win against United as I am today. I just feel they’re going to turn up today. I think they’ll be bang up for it today. This is a difficult place for United to come.”

Keane and Neville couldn’t hold back their laughter over Souness’ comments, a laughter which would have come back to haunt them at the full time whistle. In disagreement over Souness’ claims, Neville had tipped that the game could go either way with United banking on Casemiro to pass them the Anfield test. The former full-back had said:

“This is a fortress. But United have got a tough bunch. I’ve got more faith in this group coming here than I have for many years. Get through that first half an hour and it’s anyone’s game. I always feel Liverpool are really strong in that first part of the game but with Casemiro in the team which we know he will be today, I’ve got real faith in United. He’s done something really special in that dressing room, obviously with the manager.”

The result gave Liverpool their fourth victory in five Premier League games, during which time they haven’t conceded a goal. In the Champions League, Klopp’s team again showed promise moving forward against the defending champions Real Madrid, but due to individual mistakes, they were defeated at home 5-2. Now on the back of an emphatic win over the Red Devils, and a trip to minnows Bournemouth next weekend where a similar result is expected, Liverpool can truly hope for a comeback against the Los Blancos at Santiago Bernabeu.