John Barnes hits back at Harry Redknapp’s ‘worst Liverpool team’ jibe

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Former Tottenham and QPR boss Harry Redknapp reckons that the current Liverpool side, which lost to West Ham 0-3 at Anfield last Saturday, is the worst he’s seen in a very long time.

 “I don’t fancy Liverpool at all,” said Redknapp at the Telegraph Total Football Live event.

“I think it’s the worst Liverpool team I have seen in years. They look bang average. They are lucky to have any points.”

The man once so desperate for the England job obviously never watched us much under the man who took the job he wanted – Roy Hodgson!

But John Barnes, our legendary winger, has claimed that Redknapp’s comments are harsh – but has still made some interesting points regarding our current, hard-working if unimaginative outfit.

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“Some of Harry’s points are valid, but it terms of this team being the worst Liverpool side ever – I wouldn’t say so,” he began.

“We’re a very hard working side, we are a physical side, we can outrun teams and are strong. Defensively we haven’t conceded many goals, part from against West Ham.

“Maybe fans got a little carried away because we did so well in their first three games and didn’t conceding any goals, but I’m not getting carried away. It showed against West Ham that we do have out problems but, apart from Man City, every other team is not playing consistently well.

“You have to give teams time to settle down.”

“We know the type of players Harry Redknapp likes, he likes exciting football, and this isn’t necessarily going to be an exciting or free-flowing team.

“Apart from Coutinho, we haven’t really got that type of that player. We haven’t got that many inventive players, what we do have are fit, strong players – but that doesn’t mean we can’t be competitive.

“I understand Harry’s perspective, because he loves attacking football, and while this Liverpool team isn’t going to be like that, it doesn’t mean we can’t get into the top four.

“I’m still hopeful we can compete.”

Barnes is perhaps harsh on our lack of creativity, because along with Coutinho, we have the likes of Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Jordon Ibe – all technically excellent players with the capability to pull something out of the bag.

Of course, we’ve yet to see much of the sort so far this season – with the Hammers defeat bursting the bubble that our three clean-sheets in the opening matches created. With another failure against Manchester United following the international break and a disappointing result versus Bordeaux in the Europa League, questions of the management will get even louder.

Hopefully the players can being to express themselves soon, as it’s not only Redknapp who needs to see some on-pitch excitement. It would be wrong to write our side off just yet, however.

 

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