Sundari Iyer sundari. iyer@ mid- day. com FORMER English Premier League star Terry Phelan has no doubt that Liverpool will complete their grand double with the English Premier league as well as the Champions League. Irishman Phelan, who did defensives duties for some of the EPLu2019s top clubs like Leeds United, Swansea, Wimbledon, Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton, felt Liverpoolu2019s dominance ( they are 25 points ahead of second- placed City), in the EPL has given them the confidence to go all the way in the Champions League.
Three top strikers u201c The way Liverpool are playing at the moment, they can knock any defence, with the players theyu2019ve got. They put teams under pressure. They put teams in places where they want to go, and win the ball back quickly and then theyu2019ve got three effective strikers. It will be a tough game against Atletico Madrid,u201d Phelan, 52, told mid- day on the eve of Liverpoolu2019s Champions League pre- quarterfinal away clash with Diego Simeoneu2019s Atletico tonight.
u201c I think Liverpool will just go there, do their job and get some sort of a result. I think if they get over this [ match] and then can win EPL by winning the next four or five matches and then fully concentrate on the Champions League. Thatu2019s the sorry point for the other teams. Once Liverpool have wrapped up the EPL, they will be very difficult to beat. In the current scenario, I donu2019t think Liverpool will be fearing anybody.
In fact, all the other teams will be fearing Liverpool,u201d added Phelan, a former Irish defender, who played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Currently, a TV pundit on the Sony Sports network, Phelan put Liverpoolu2019s success particularly down to two key menu2014 striker Mohamed Salah and manager Jurgen Klopp.
u201c Mo Salah has been playing some wonderful football. He has worked hard and has a unique style of play.
With Alexander Arnold [ right back] behind him, they work in tandem. So I wouldnu2019t like to face him [ Salah]. Salah is a big part. And of course, then thereu2019s Klopp. He has been a manager in Germany. He came to Liverpool four- five years ago and has implemented his own philosophy and playing style.
He has got to quite a few finals and even lost some, but here he can now win two Champions League titles in a row, and of course, he is going to win the EPL. u2018 Kloppu2019s been fantasticu2019 Heu2019s been fantastic. Heu2019s been a breath of fresh air to the EPL. He knows what football means to Liverpool. He knows what the fans need.
Remember, he has previously lost the Premiership by one point. Success brings success, Iu2019m sure heu2019s going to win more trophies,u201d Phelan signed off.
Phelan: All the other teams fear Liverpool Ahead of tonightu2019s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, former EPL star says Reds can put any side under pressure given the form they are in Liverpoolu2019s Egyptian star striker Mohamed Salah. PIC/ GETTY IMAGES Live on tv u00a3 Atletico Madrid v Liverpool: Sony Ten 2 & HD, 01: 30 ( Wednesday) u00a3 Dortmund v PSG: Sony Ten 1 & HD, 01: 30 ( Wednesday) Terry Phelan
