Liverpool’s surprise move to buy Porto’s Luis Diaz has excited its fans.
The leftwinger is Sadio Mane’s likely long-term successor, although he may feature prominently this season.
More importantly, it gives the club a fearsome strike force – Mohamed Salah, Mane, Diogo Jota, and Roberto Firmino, plus Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi, if needed.
Long-time Liverpool supporter, Prem Kumar Subramaniam, is delighted by Diaz’s signing and cannot wait until he makes his debut.
“Diaz will make Liverpool stronger in the Champions League, but I am not too optimistic of winning the English league,” said Prem, aware that Manchester City has a nine-point lead, having played a game more.
“Having supported the club for over 30 years, I can say that it has never worked when Liverpool has to hope, or rely on others, to drop points.
“The season Liverpool was champion, it was in the driving seat from start to finish.
“I think the top four will be City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.
“At the other end of the table, Newcastle, Watford, Burnley are likely to be relegated,” the editor added.
While not optimistic about winning the English League, Prem said Liverpool has a fair chance of winning the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League.
Liverpool has already qualified for the League Cup final on Feb 28 (12.30am, Malaysian time) against Chelsea.
Liverpool faces Cardiff in the fourth round of the FA Cup (Sunday, 8pm) and Inter Milan in the Champions League later this month, and early next month.
“A treble of cups seems achievable. The League Cup final is later this month, and Liverpool should have a good go at winning the FA Cup. It has been 16 years since it last won the trophy,” said Prem, who fondly remembers Liverpool’s treble feats from 1984 and 2001.
In 1984, Joe Fagan’s side won the English League, League Cup and European Cup.
Seventeen years later, under Gerard Houllier, the Merseyside club won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup.
Prem is also confident Salah will sign a new long-term contract. Negotiations are ongoing with the Egyptian, who has finished as the club’s top scorer every year since signing in 2017.
Salah’s present contract ends in the summer of 2023.
“We should look to bring in a creative midfielder and Firmino’s successor in the summer,” said Prem.
FIXTURES (English FA Cup, fourth round)
SATURDAY
Manchester United vs Middlesbrough (4am)
Kidderminster vs West Ham (8.30pm)
Chelsea vs Plymouth (8.30pm)
Manchester City vs Fulham (11pm)
Peterborough vs Queens Park Rangers (11pm)
Wolves vs Norwich (11pm)
Huddersfield vs Barnsley (11pm)
Everton vs Brentford (11pm)
Stoke vs Wigan (11pm)
Southampton vs Coventry (11pm)
Crystal Palace vs Hartlepool (11pm)
SUNDAY
Cambridge vs Luton (1.30am)
Tottenham vs Brighton (4am)
Liverpool vs Cardiff (8pm)
MONDAY
Nottingham Forest vs Leicester (12am)
Bournemouth vs Boreham Wood (2.30am)
