Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy says criticism from Roy Keane or anyone else is “completely irrelevant” as Arne Slot’s team prepares to lift the Premier League trophy this weekend.
This week, Keane claimed he was “irritated” by Liverpool picking up only one point from a possible nine since the league title was wrapped up with four games to spare. The former Manchester United midfielder bizarrely claimed that the Reds needed to “show a bit of class” after defeats to Chelsea and Brighton.
But Murphy has insisted that Liverpool has earned the right to do what it wants with the remainder of the campaign. Last week, Slot was in Ibiza while the Reds’ players spent some time in Dubai.
“I don’t think it matters,” Murphy tells Liverpool.com. “When you look back on titles, when you look at the points tally, sometimes people have opinions on the success of the season based on points.
“But the reality is, once you have won the league, it is impossible to play with the same intensity and meaning. You just can’t do that. Why would you? You just switch off your levels a little bit.
“In terms of the selection, it is fair enough for Arne Slot to have a look at some of the lads who he might be unsure of, whether that is Jarell Quansah or Harvey Elliott. Why not have a look at them?
“He is doing the job that is best for the club. It is not about suiting other people or other teams. You have earned the right by winning the league early to do what you want.
(Image: Image: www.instagram.com/waynelineker/)
“When you break it down, the first-half performance against Arsenal was really good. Second half, Arsenal had a good go back and it ended in a draw — it was hardly an embarrassing performance.
“The Brighton one, you are up against a side who are trying to get into Europe and have spent £200 million on good players. You are missing your captain and best player at the back, you are going to be more vulnerable.
“I don’t think Slot should be concerned about whatever anyone from the outside says. It is only a little bit of clickbait because of the fact that Liverpool have been so good.
“There has been nothing else to pick on, and sometimes you have to just find something, but the reality is that what Slot has done this season and what the team has achieved is beyond all expectations. A little bit of criticism from Roy Keane or anyone else will be completely irrelevant to Arne Slot and Liverpool fans.”
This summer, Liverpool is likely to be active in the transfer market. Jeremie Frimpong is one target while Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz are also admired.
Learn more
“I still think another center-half is needed,” Murphy says. “I like Quansah, but he is a young lad and he does make mistakes sometimes.
“We look more vulnerable when Virgil van Dijk isn’t playing, whether it is Quansah or Joe Gomez, we know that. But I think when Van Dijk isn’t there, we need somebody else who has a physical, commanding presence to go alongside Ibrahima Konate.
“That is maybe something I’ve seen, but most fans are of the same opinion. There is not much wrong. Freshening up at full-back is something we all expected to happen on both sides.
“If they get Florian Wirtz, everyone is going to be ecstatic. And I also think Darwin Nunez’s days are done. Slot doesn’t fancy him and he has hardly played him, certainly not as much as Jurgen Klopp did, so they are going to have to bring someone in.
“I don’t think he will go into the season, if Darwin went, relying on Diogo Jota or Luis Diaz to play that role regularly. They will need to bring someone in and it will be exciting to see what he does there.”
