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Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney revealed he still believes Liverpool would finish in the top four despite the club’s dismal 4-1 loss to Manchester City at the weekend.
City humbled Liverpool on Saturday, even with 42-goal striker Erling Haaland having been ruled out with a groin injury.
The Anfield club opened the scoring through Mohamed Salah, only for Haaland’s replacement Julian Alvarez to equalise before the break.
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Pep Guardiola’s side then scored three unanswered second-half goals, to dispatch the Merseyside club and apply the pressure on table-toppers Arsenal.
The defeat sees Jurgen Klopp’s men languishing in eighth in the Premier League, some eight points adrift of the Champions League spots.
Rooney’s Liverpool "suspicion"
Despite Liverpool’s stuttering form United legend Rooney admitted he had a "suspicion" Klopp’s men would have an end-of-season revival and finish in the top four.
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He also backed his former club to secure a Champions League spot, despite losing 2-0 to top-four rivals Newcastle on Sunday.
United’s record scorer said, as per the Liverpool Echo: "The top four? A few weeks ago, there looked a possibility Manchester United could challenge for the Premier League title.
“Erik ten Hag’s team fell short, but they could still end up with three trophies, and I’m sure will finish in the top four, then kick on after he buys a few players to strengthen in the summer.
“So Manchester United will be there but I have a suspicion that Liverpool might sneak into it, thanks to the quality of their squad and their experience.
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“They’re capable of going on a run. I see Newcastle, despite the great job Eddie has done, falling just a little short.”
Rooney’s comments will surprise contingents of both the Liverpool and United fanbase, who may feel their sides have underperformed in recent weeks or months.
Indeed, Klopp was the first to criticise his players after their tepid display against City.
The German told BT Sport: "If we don't defend the double six we have a real problem. If we don't defend the double 10 - Gundogan and De Bruyne - then it is pretty much impossible because the pitch becomes too big.
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"We concede this first goal with I think an open ball in midfield where we don't even have a challenge then we are too deep and the counter-attack happens. Great play. 2-1.
"3-1 we have a massive overload on one side, should win the ball but don't even have a challenge. These kinds of things cannot happen. But they happened and after that... wow! We just had to follow as they did whatever they wanted. We were lucky they weren't in a greedy mood.
"About that, there is nothing good to say about this game. This is a game we have to use unfortunately and make clear which things cannot happen.
"We can not have challenges in key areas or be that open. Now I stand here and have to explain it but I cannot explain it. I cannot change it now, here, I can just report what I saw and we will talk about it tomorrow. These things happened too often."
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Football, Manchester United, Liverpool, Wayne Rooney, Champions League