Michael Owen believes that Liverpool remain the best team in the Premier League, but concedes that results this season have made that claim look silly. The ex-Liverpool forward believes the club have been fortunate that the form of teams such as Chelsea has ensured they remain in contention for Champions League qualification.
The Reds sit in fifth position, five points behind Aston Villa in fourth. The Premier League are currently set to receive five qualification spots for the Champions League, with Chelsea a single point behind Arne Slot's side.
Despite being 21 points behind league leaders Arsenal, the 46-year-old believes that his former side have the most destructive players at their disposal. Owen, the official UK ambassador for Casino.org , a comparison website highlighting the best online casinos for UK players, praised the squad's abilities.
"On Liverpool's given day I still think they're the best team about," Owen told the Liverpool Echo. "When they play well, nobody's winning at Anfield, when Liverpool are absolutely on their a game, there's no team in the country that can.
"I know, Arsenal will beat them by 20 odd points or whatever this season, but I still believe Liverpool have got the most destructive and best players.
"Ekitike, Isak, they're incredible. Mo Salah, incredible. There are so many of them.
"Virgil van Dijk, one of the best centre-halves in the country. Probably got the best goalkeeper in the world, you know, they've got some unbelievable players.
"But over the period of a season, those words that I've just spouted can be made to look silly"
Liverpool's European pedigree remains despite their Premier League difficulties. Own thinks inconsistency could cost the Reds at the business end of the competition, with Paris Saint-Germain lying in wait next.
"Do I think they can win the Champions League? I think their, their team are good enough, too, but I just think they're too inconsistent," Owen lamented.
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"And one slip-up at this stage against really good teams and you're out. So I'd have to say that I'd be nervous about Liverpool winning anything this season.
"They've obviously got a tough draw in the FA Cup as well. The only good thing going for Liverpool at the moment is that Chelsea are not performing that well and Villa are slipping a little bit and there's going to be five teams you would think in the in the Champions League places."
