Roy Keane has his say on whether Liverpool can be considered a ‘great team’

Following their 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield, Roy Keane has delivered a controversial take on whether Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side will be remembered in decades to come as a ‘great team’,

Liverpool drew and came away with a crucial point at home on Sunday 9 April after going 2-0 down within 28 minutes. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli opened the proceedings in the 8th while Gabriel Jesus further capitalised on Liverpool’s defensive mistakes 20 minutes later.

However, important goals from Mohamed Salah (42’) and Roberto Firmino (87’) made sure the Gooners remained winless at Anfield for the tenth time.

Following the game, Arsenal remains clear at the top of the Premier League table with Liverpool trailing them by 33 points. Currently sitting in eighth place, Klopp’s squad is just one point clear of Brentford in ninth and trails Brighton & Hove Albion in seventh by two.

It’s been an undeniably tough season for Liverpool and with just nine home and away fixtures to play, it appears as if Liverpool can all but kiss their Champions League qualification dreams goodbye.

In the post-match discussion of the draw, Sky Sport’s Dave Jones said, “Let’s have a reminder of what this team has achieved in the time they’ve been together, with Jurgen Klopp driving them on to success domestically and in Europe. Champions League winners in 2018/19. Remember they got 97 points — just pipped by Manchester City.

"The following year [2019/20] 99 points to win the Premier League. And then that drop off, with a couple of domestic cup wins in 2021-22. They were chasing four trophies.”

After listing Liverpool’s previous accolades, he turned to Keane, 51 and asked, “If this is the end, Roy for this team… are we remembering them as a great Liverpool team?”

Keane replied to the query stating, “No, forget about it. That’s not enough to be classed as a great team over that number of years. No, I don’t why [Jones] you’re staring at me for. You said, ‘great team’, no that’s not enough prizes.

"They’ve been competing, they’ve been competing, they’ve been brilliant to watch, but no… I wouldn’t put that down as a great team.”

Sticking up for the squad, fellow pundit Gary Neville said, “I think for those three years they were a great team. The reason they didn’t win the trophies that Roy talks about is because of Manchester City… Obviously City are just exceptional, they’re one of the greatest Premier League teams we’ve ever seen – and that’s the problem Liverpool have had.I do think for three years they were achieving a great level.”

Chiming in with the discussion, ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said that he agreed with both Keane and Neville. He believed that in the past, Liverpool hasn’t won enough silverware to back up their ability.

“I do think they’re a great team but great teams will win the league three times, or win the Champions League two or three times," the former Liverpool star said.

"What we’ve seen here [at Anfield] under Jurgen Klopp has been absolutely outstanding but I just wanted another league or another European Cup… What they’ve done and how they’ve entertained us over the last for or five years has been absolutely out of this world, but I do think big changes are needed this summer.”

In April 2022, it was announced by Liverpool that Klopp had signed a contract extension as their head coach. It will see the 55-year-old remaining with the club until 2026.

At the time, Klopp told Liverpool FC.com that, “There are so many words I could use to describe how I am feeling about [signing the contract extension]… delighted, humbled, blessed, privileged, and excited would be a start.