A senior Liverpool chief has publicly clashed with the pessimistic assessment of Manchester United legend Roy Keane, insisting the club can still win the Premier League this season despite a torrid run of form under manager Arne Slot.
Anfield Belief Defies Dire League Position
The Merseyside club is enduring what can only be described as a miserable second campaign under the Dutch coach. Liverpool currently sit in a dismal 13th place in the Premier League table, having lost six of their opening 12 league matches ahead of their crucial Sunday afternoon fixture away to West Ham United.
The situation is precarious; should other results go against them this weekend, the Reds could find themselves a staggering 14 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal. This bleak outlook has led to external figures, most notably Roy Keane, writing off their championship credentials entirely.
Roy Keane's 'Crisis' Declaration
Following Liverpool's defeat to Manchester City earlier in November, the outspoken pundit delivered a withering verdict. Keane unequivocally stated that Liverpool cannot be considered title contenders and declared the situation at Anfield a full-blown crisis.
"At this moment in time, you can't be considering Liverpool for the league title," Keane said. "I think it is crisis time for Liverpool... to lose seven in 10 and five league losses already this season, it has to be a crisis for a club like Liverpool."
Internal Patience and Public Backing for Slot
However, the atmosphere behind the scenes at Liverpool tells a different story. Contrary to Keane's stark analysis, there remains a firm belief within the club's hierarchy that this season can be salvaged and turned into a success.
According to reports from The Times, one senior club figure holds the conviction that Liverpool can remarkably still finish the season at the top of the table. This optimism is underpinned by significant patience and a clear willingness to give Arne Slot the time he needs to rectify the team's issues.
The club's view of Slot has reportedly not changed, and he retains the same standing with his employers as he did when he led the club to the Premier League title just last season. This internal support was echoed by Slot himself, who confirmed he has held talks with club chiefs about their poor form, but described the conversations as routine.
"We've had the same conversations as we've had since I'm here," Slot stated in a press conference. "We fight on. We try to improve, that's what we all try."
The coming days present a critical opportunity for Liverpool to prove their chief right and Keane wrong. After the trip to the London Stadium, Liverpool welcome Sunderland to Anfield in a midweek fixture before facing a struggling Leeds United at Elland Road next weekend.
