TalkSPORT pundit Dean Saunders believes Liverpool’s squad could have benefitted from the addition of Wayne Rooney.
The former Manchester United striker has agreed to become a player-coach at Derby County, but Saunders believes there is a gap in the Liverpool side that 33-year-old Rooney could have flourished in.
His suggestion was so alarming to TalkSPORT host Alan Brazil, that he was initially interrupted while stating his case for Rooney, who Saunders thinks could claim a place in plenty of Premier League teams.
He said: “I was even thinking, if he’s fit and he’s hungry, that type of player – Liverpool probably could do with a player who can play in midfield, turn defence into attack and hit the splitting passes and score goals.
“He could definitely play for the middle part of the Premier League teams – he could get in Palace’s team, he could get in Villa’s team.
“You have to look him in the eye and say ‘Wayne, are you here for the ride, or are you here because you’ve got that Wayne Rooney fire in your belly, where nobody takes the ball off me, I want to win and I’m going to drive my teammates on’.”
For Wayne Rooney to turn up at Liverpool having spent years at Everton and Manchester United would be a story in itself, though Saunders may be guilty of contradiction with his views.
It was only earlier this week when Saunders was highlighting the effect of Liverpool’s midfield within Jurgen Klopp’s system – but suddenly it is in need of Rooney, of all people.
And while Rooney has dropped into a central midfield role of late (with his most recent Everton spell spent mainly in midfield positions), adding to the wide array of central and defensive midfielders already present at Liverpool could potentially leave playing time at a premium for the former England international.
