Despite him scoring 40 goals at club level this season, many Liverpool fans have dismissed claims that Erling Haaland would be an ideal fit for the Reds after former Premier League Golden Boot winner Kevin Phillips told Football Insider that the Norwegian would suit Jurgen Klopp’s side.
In comments that were shared on Twitter by @AnfieldEdition, the ex-Sunderland striker said to Football Insider: “Mane and Salah are not out and out strikers. It might be an area Klopp looks at in the summer. It is a slight issue. They lack an out and out goalscorer. Haaland – imagine him playing for Liverpool as their number nine. Mane and Salah playing off of him and Firmino just behind. Wow. Imagine that front four.”
Kevin Phillips: “It is a slight issue. The lack an out and out goalscorer.
“Haaland – imagine him playing for Liverpool as their number nine. Mane and Salah playing off of him and Firmino just behind. Wow. Imagine that front four.
“I could see him there with his movement.” pic.twitter.com/9oinebqwn5
— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) March 8, 2020
Haaland has already scored 12 goals in 10 games for Borussia Dortmund since leaving Red Bull Salzburg in January, with his 40-goal tally for the current campaign twice the amount scored by Liverpool’s top scorer Mohamed Salah and only eight fewer than Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have managed between them in 2019/20 (as per TransferMarkt).
Liverpool have been linked with another Bundesliga striker recently, with The Athletic claiming last week [via TEAMtalk] that the Reds are due to open talks with RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner in the near future, with the Germany international hitting 27 goals so far this term.
Despite Haaland’s phenomenal goal return, these Liverpool fans on Twitter slammed Phillips’ claim that he would be an upgrade on the Reds’ current attacking options and a perfect fit for Klopp’s team apparently lacking an “out and out goalscorer”:
Werner is better
— ??????????™ (@puppetboypino) March 8, 2020
Rubbish . Kev salad main goal scorer followed by mane
— mark jude (@judeboy78) March 8, 2020
So Mane Salah Bobby and Haaland. Do we not need a midfield anymore? U playing 4-2-4?
— Alan Wilson (@AlanWil45560926) March 8, 2020
Is this from Kevin Philips, the tactical genius. I’ll trust Klopp over him any day
— Richie Howard (@rihoward) March 8, 2020
I couldn’t think of a player less suited to our system
— J-O (@Jordan81814) March 8, 2020
lol football is not all about attacking, with that 4 and our full backs we will be short defensively just 2 midfield 2 center backs
— Arigat?. ????? (@JayD_deOne) March 8, 2020
Do you agree with Phillips’ assertion that Haaland would improve Liverpool’s attack if he were to end up at Anfield? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
