Owen makes fresh top-four prediction ahead of ‘defining’ period for Liverpool – ‘I’m convinced of it’
Michael Owen is “convinced” that Liverpool will qualify for the Champions League if they can come through their upcoming run of fixtures unscathed.
Liverpool are enduring a difficult season but they boosted their hopes of earning a place in the top-four with their 2-0 win over Wolves on Wednesday night. Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah sealed all three points for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The Reds are now just six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand. Newcastle are arguably in a better position, though. Eddie Howe’s team are four points shy of Spurs with two games in hand.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have a difficult run of fixtures coming up as they face Manchester United, Bournemouth, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Leeds United in the coming weeks.
Owen feels that Liverpool will end up fourth if they are “no further away” from the Champions League places after these next six games.
“If they’re [Liverpool] no further away from the top four after that run of fixtures then they’ll do it – I’m convinced of it,” Owen said on Premier League Productions.
“That is defining. They could be out of it if they go on a poor run in that then they could be 10 or 12 points adrift with eight games to go. It would be all over.
“But if they’re still within three, four, five points of the top four after those set of fixtures then they’ll do it.”
Speaking after Liverpool’s victory over Wolves, Klopp praised his side for producing a “really important” performance.
“I thought the whole story of the game is an important one for us to take. I think we did a lot of good stuff in the first half, played the way we had to play,” Klopp said.
“We didn’t create that many clear-cut chances, the best one was probably the header from Harvey Elliott which he missed.
“Second half, around the disallowed goal already we increased the pressure and these kind of things.
“I think you all saw the (disallowed) goal now a couple of times back and when you see it in slow-motion you see the contact then, but I still think it was a goal – but that’s not important anymore.
“The players don’t have a replay and for them it’s a clear goal of course. Then you have to react.
“I was not worried but of course then you watch it, how the boys react – and the reaction was really good.
“Then you force the goal and then the second goal was exceptional play – a really good counter-attack, each pass was perfect.
“Then we controlled it again. So, it was a good performance from us and a really important one.
“And of course again a clean sheet, which is extremely helpful. These are all positives for us, all good.”
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