Rio Ferdinand has shared that he believes Liverpool simply “won’t have enough” to finish in the top four this season.
The former Manchester United defender revealed that he thought while Liverpool were fantastic going forward, their defensive issues would cost them getting Champions League football next season through their league finish.
“Defensively they’re not strong enough at the moment,” confessed Ferdinand, while on Wednesday night’s BT Sport’s Premier League Tonight.
“Going forward they’re fantastic, great to watch, but I just think they won’t have enough defensively.”
Liverpool are currently sat third with 50 points, with fourth placed Chelsea only behind them due to goal difference.
Tottenham are sat fifth, two points behind the Reds, ahead of their meeting at Anfield on Sunday.
Ferdinand believes come the end of the season, the top four will be; Manchester City, Man United, Spurs and Chelsea.
The pundit is only tipping the Blues to beat Liverpool to a top four finish due to the club having Eden Hazard, as he suggested the former Champions would finish seventh without the midfielder.
OPINION
Jurgen Klopp’s side can have Ferdinand doubting his prediction on Sunday if they successfully beat Tottenham. Achieving three points against the team currently in fifth, would go along way towards convincing the pundit that despite weakness at the back, Liverpool can go the distance. The Reds probably expect pundits to doubt their ability to have a successful season, at this point, as Klopp’s side have been exposed several times this season. Also Liverpool have suffered some surprise defeats in recent times, having lost to West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City, and that’s probably fresh in the pundit’s mind. However, Ferdinand is being a bit hypocritical to suggest Hazard could pretty much single handily carry Chelsea to a top four finish, but doesn’t think Liverpool’s talented attack is enough to get them over the line.