Former England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen has made a bold declaration, stating that Liverpool remain "the best team in the Premier League" when performing at their peak, despite currently languishing in sixth place. Owen, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2001, delivered his verdict on the BBC's Wayne Rooney Show, sparking debate about the true hierarchy of English football.
Owen's Unwavering Faith in Liverpool's Quality
The 46-year-old, who made nearly 300 appearances for Liverpool between 1996 and 2004, acknowledged that many will scoff at his claim given the Reds' position. Arne Slot's side are a staggering 19 points behind league leaders Arsenal in what has been a feeble defence of the title they clinched in the 2024-25 campaign. However, Owen remains convinced of their underlying superiority.
"Personally I think they're the best team in the Premier League," Owen stated. "People will laugh like, 'where are they, sixth in the league?' They trounced the league last season, they're just not playing well. But if you get the best performance out of every team in the Premier League and say, 'right, go on. Your best against your best'. I think Liverpool are the best team."
Frustration Over Liverpool's Inconsistency
Owen admitted it has been "massively frustrating" to witness Liverpool's struggles this season, especially following the high-profile summer signings of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz. These additions were meant to bolster an already title-winning squad, making their current form all the more perplexing.
"It's hard to believe that they're worse now," he continued. "But I just think it's a matter of time, maybe next season, before you see them at their very top again."
Arsenal's Title Charge and Style Critique
While Owen expects Mikel Arteta's Arsenal to go on and win the league this season, he was emphatic in downplaying comparisons to Liverpool's dominant form from the previous campaign. "You can't tell me they're as good as, or even close to Liverpool last season," he asserted. "I think Liverpool have got it in them - they're just not doing it consistently."
Owen is not alone in questioning Arsenal's aesthetic appeal. Their perceived over-reliance on set-pieces has become a focal point of criticism. Liverpool manager Arne Slot recently lamented that the growing fixation on corners had made Premier League matches "not a joy to watch," contrasting it with his admiration for the fluid football of Barcelona a decade ago.
Arteta's Defence of Pragmatic Football
Arteta has consistently rebuffed such critiques, arguing that the evolution of the Premier League makes "beautiful football" in the traditional sense increasingly unattainable. Earlier this month, the Arsenal boss explained that opponents are now so well-drilled and organised that the free-flowing play of yesteryear is largely extinct in England's top flight.
"I would like to play with three players extra in my own half to get some beautiful football," Arteta said. "This is not the reality of football. You want to watch that kind of football, you have to go to a different country because in the Premier League for the last two or three seasons, this is not the case."
He detailed how modern coaching has led to intensely structured, almost man-to-man marking systems after every phase of play, whether from throw-ins, restarts, or open-play situations. "It's going to be a different game unless we change the rules," Arteta concluded, framing the debate as one about the sport's tactical evolution rather than a simple stylistic choice.
