Manchester United legend Roy Keane does not think Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team have done enough over the years “to be classed as a great team”.
2022-23 has been a woeful campaign for the Reds – who are now very unlikely to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Their form has caught many by surprise after they were two games away from winning a historic quadruple last season.
Sunday’s enthralling draw at home to league leaders Arsenal has left Liverpool eighth, 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
Following the match, Sky Sports pundits Micah Richards, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Keane were all asked if it is the end of an era at Anfield and the conversation quickly changed to whether or not Klopp’s Liverpool will be remembered as a “great team”.
The German manager took charge of Liverpool in October 2015 and has transformed the club from a side struggling to compete for silverware to one reaching at least one cup final every season.
Klopp’s first trophy at Anfield was the club’s Champions League triumph in 18-19 before he led the Merseyside giants to their first-ever Premier League title a year later.
The Reds won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season before claiming the Community Shield at the start of this term.
Four major trophies in nearly eight years at Anfield is quite disappointing considering how well Klopp’s side have performed, and Keane does not think they have won enough to be remembered as one of the greatest teams in English football history.
It is worth mentioning that Liverpool have lost two Champions League finals, a Europa League final and have finished second in the Premier League twice under Klopp – including one season when they accumulated a ridiculous 97 points and still finished below Manchester City.
Sky Sports host Dave Jones asked his punditry team: “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, 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.
“If this is the end, Roy, for this team… are we remembering them as a great Liverpool team?”
Keane – who won seven league titles, four FA Cups, and a Champions League with Manchester United – was having none of it, however, telling Jones Liverpool have not won “enough prizes”.
“No, forget about it” the former midfielder replied. “That’s not enough to be classed as a great team over that number of years.
“No. I don’t know why you’re staring at me for.
“You said ‘great team’, no that’s not enough prizes.
“They’ve been competing, they’ve been brilliant to watch, but no… I wouldn’t put that down as a great team.”
Keane’s former United teammate Gary Neville argued that the Reds were a great team.
He 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.”
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher added: “I agree with both [Keane and Neville]. This team hasn’t won enough for how good it is.
“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.
“Gary’s right, they’ve been up against Manchester City, but that is the name of the game.
“What we’ve seen here [at Anfield] under Jurgen Klopp has been absolutely outstanding but I just wanted another league or another European Cup.
“Listen, what they’ve done and how they’ve entertained us over for the last four or five years has been absolutely out of this world, but I do think big changes are needed this summer.”
Micah Richards did add that he and Neville were not on the same level as Keane during their playing days, so may have lower standards when it comes to deciding whether or not a team can be regarded as great.
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