Graeme Souness Delivers Bold Liverpool Verdict Amid Turbulent Season
Graeme Souness has never been one to follow the crowd, and once again he has cut against the prevailing narrative. While many pundits have dismissed Liverpool’s prospects of defending their Premier League crown, the former captain believes Arne Slot’s side still has a path back into contention. His confidence arrives at a moment when optimism on Merseyside has thinned dramatically after a difficult autumn.
Souness Champions Anfield Spirit
Liverpool were five points clear at the top only a couple of months ago, yet a stark slump has dragged them down to 11th, with an 11 point gap to leaders Arsenal. The recent 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest was another jarring reminder of the team’s struggles, prompting Martin Keown to warn that the champions are “going backwards”.
Even so, Souness refuses to accept that Liverpool are out of the race. Speaking on talkSPORT, he highlighted the relentless energy of the home crowd and the formidable competitive nature of the league. He said: “Anything can happen in our league. I have worked in big leagues abroad, and I tell you, our league is by far the most demanding league anywhere. Big clubs don’t get a rest.
“It’s still very much on for three or four teams, and I have to include Liverpool, because I know the way the crowd react there. They won’t give up on the team.”
His view taps into Anfield’s history of defiant surges, moments when atmosphere and belief have shaped outcomes that once felt beyond reach. Match-going supporters remain slow to turn, and typically only an extreme crisis provokes genuine hostility. Slot’s reign is yet to test those boundaries.
Liverpool’s Title Hopes Fade but Top Four Remains Achievable
Realistically, few Liverpool fans can see a title comeback this season, even with most of the campaign still ahead. Eleven points is a towering gap, and chasing down an Arsenal side that has shown impressive consistency would require near perfect form. Slot’s team would need something close to their 2019-20 levels, and they would also need Arsenal to falter significantly.
At present, neither condition appears imminent. Yet the top four remains firmly within reach. Aston Villa, currently fourth, sit only three points ahead, which keeps Champions League qualification firmly on the table despite Liverpool losing six of their last seven league games.
Should Liverpool steady themselves, recover their attacking fluency and secure a top four finish, it would still fall short of the ambition that followed Slot’s title win in 2024-25. However, given the current turbulence, it would represent a stabilising outcome and a platform to rebuild momentum.
Slot Maintains Fan Backing as Liverpool Seek Revival
Souness is right about one thing. Even in difficult spells, Anfield is rarely a place where players or managers are jeered out of the stadium. Calls for Slot to be “sacked in the morning” have not materialised, and Gary Neville remains one of several pundits urging patience and perspective.
Other fanbases might have reacted more explosively to recent performances, including Saturday’s heavy loss, but Liverpool supporters have stopped short of turning. The belief, while bruised, is not broken.
Souness’s bullish outlook may feel ambitious, yet it reflects a wider truth about Liverpool. Turbulent moments are part of the club’s story, and while a title charge looks distant, a revival that restores pride and purpose is still well within reach.
