John Arne Riise says there may be ‘absolute confidence’ that struggling Liverpool will finish above Manchester United within the Premier League this season.
Arne Slot’s side were widely tipped to retain the Premier League trophy before the season began after winning the title by ten points back in May.
Liverpool’s title-winning squad was strengthened with over £400m of signing over the summer, with the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez arriving at Anfield.
But the large spending has not had the specified effect, with Liverpool’s title defence already hanging by a thread following a shocking begin to the season.
Slot’s side have won lower than half of their league games to slide to tenth within the Premier League, ten points behind leaders Arsenal.
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Liverpool are no less than unbeaten of their last 4 games, having clinched a 1-0 win over Inter Milan within the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Reds are 4 places below Manchester United within the Premier League table but Riise says there may be ‘absolute confidence’ that Liverpool might be higher come the top of the season.
United proceed to struggle for consistency under Ruben Amorim but already look vastly improved from the team that finished just fifteenth last season.
Monday’s emphatic 4-1 win over bottom-placed Wolves saw United move to inside only one point of the Champions League places.
‘I’m quite sure Liverpool will finish higher than Manchester United,’ Riise, who remodeled 300 Premier League appearances, told FootItalia.
‘Although I actually have to say I do want United up there again, because we want Manchester United up there fighting for Champions League spots and stuff.
‘I really need Ruben Amorim to do well as well because I believe he’s had a tough time since he got here to the club and he still is kind of stubborn.
‘But yeah, Liverpool goes to complete above Man United, absolute confidence about that.’
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Asked whether, as a former Liverpool player, he ‘enjoys’ watching Manchester United struggle, Riise added: ‘Once I was playing for Liverpool, I wanted United to lose all their games, and we beat them on a regular basis.
‘Looking from the surface now, as a fan, I still want Liverpool to beat them each time they play them, and I actually have so many friends who support United.
‘Once they win, all of them send me messages, but I never send them when Liverpool wins. But overall, I need United to do well since the league is healthier after they’re a powerful team, and after they challenge.
‘I need them to push Liverpool, but never be higher than them, if that is sensible.
‘I don’t want them to win things, I don’t want them to be an awesome side, but I need them to be up there, near the highest. Football needs Manchester United to be up there.’
Liverpool return to Premier League motion on Saturday against Brighton, while United play host to Bournemouth on Monday night.
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