“I Didn’t Want to Say This Publicly” – David James Shares Big “Fēār” He Now Has for Liverpool

Liverpool have had a strong start to the season, suffering only one defeat under their new manager, Arne Slot.

However, former goalkeeper David James predicts that his old club may face difficulties after the international break. He has also set a specific points target for Liverpool if they are to have a chance of winning the league.

Arne Slot took on a major challenge when he joined Liverpool in the summer, replacing the legendary Jürgen Klopp. Slot not only has to meet the high expectations left by his predecessor but also faces the task of rebuilding the squad in his own style.

This comes as the club prepare for the potential departures of several key and experienced players over the next couple of years.

While Slot is addressing challenges one step at a time, his work has already been praised in the early days of his time at Liverpool. Nevertheless, James believes that the real test for Slot and his team is still to come.

International Break Could Harm Liverpool Chances

As we approach another international break, Liverpool currently hold the top spot in the Premier League standings with 18 points from seven matches.

With the team from Anfield enjoying a streak of six consecutive victories across all competitions, they might be hoping that this break wasn’t happening at all.

This disruption is what worries David James, who believes it could hinder Liverpool’s momentum.

Speaking on the BBC’s Premier League Review podcast, James expressed concern that when the players return from international duty, they may need more time to readjust to club football, which could negatively affect their performance after being away from manager Jurgen Klopp for the next two weeks.

Reflecting on the challenges and drawing from the evidence of the last international break, James shared his insights on the potential impact it could have on the team’s rhythm and form.

“My fear for Liverpool is, and I didn’t want to say this publicly, but I have to now, because you’ve drawn me into it.

“My fear for Liverpool is post international breaks. I think we saw that against Nottingham Forest. Simply because what I believe was the pre-season going into the beginning of the Premier League under Slot there, I think the team were just like, this is what we do. This is how we do it: Training, training, training. We do it in the game: Bang, bang, bang. We win games of football.

“But, that first international break, it was ten days of not having Slot’s training, and then they came back after a couple of days to try and get back into it. And it just didn’t work against Forest.”

Can Liverpool Win the Title?

If Liverpool can stay strong after the break, they have a good chance of being among the top contenders by the end of the season. In fact, James has clearly explained what the Reds need to do to stay in the title race.

He further stated:

“The way I see it, 90 points is what a team should be aiming for to win the league. Very basic, you know, win 30 games and lose the other eight.

“And if you kind of go by that model, it doesn’t matter who you lose the other eight to, you still end up with 90 points, despite all the speed bumps. Lose them. That’s fine, but make sure you win 30 games.”

Liverpool have already secured six victories, leaving them with 24 more needed to hit James’ goal of 90 points for the season.

In other Liverpool news, Stats That Shows Liverpool Can Beat Man City and Arsenal to PL Title Win This Season