Wayne Rooney has namedropped Liverpool as the Premier League team which has impressed him most during the current season. The Reds currently sit top of the standings after seven games, having won six of their fixtures so far, while they have adapted well to life under new manager Arne Slot.
Some observers predicted Liverpool to struggle, following the exit of Jurgen Klopp, although the first-team squad have showcased their ability to seamlessly take to Slot’s style of play. As a result, the team look set to be involved in another title race with Arsenal and Manchester City and will fancy their chances of taking this to the final weeks of the campaign, which has already thrown up plenty of drama in the opening two months.
Slot has earned plaudits for picking up where Klopp left off and Rooney – who first made his name down the road at Everton – is among those who has singled out the Dutchman for praise. Asked on The Overlap who’d caught his eye this term, the former Manchester United captain replied: “I’d go Liverpool.
“I think with the manager coming in after Klopp, that was obviously big pressure and they look more solid. I think they’ve got a good solid base and the manager comes across well.”
Gary Neville was left surprised by this answer, responding: “Liverpool?!” After hearing Rooney’s remark, though, he also had some positive things to say about the Reds’ water-tight defensive unit.
“That back five, to be fair, has probably played together more than any other back five for a long time, it feels like,” added Neville. “You’ve got [Andy] Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, [Ibrahima] Konate and [Virgil] Van Dijk. Some will say Konate’s not played every game but it feels like that back five, along with Alisson, is quite solid.”
