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“That’s where the gap closes and then can these teams do a much stronger challenge? I still can’t see one of those teams win the league, but I think we’re going to have a great title run.”
When asked about the impact of Van Dijk’s injury and whether Liverpool can defend their title without him, he added: “History says no.
“What I mean by that is that when I started watching football in the mid-80s, I went through teams, champions, who tried to retain the title next season. We know that is difficult for any champion.
“I came back in the mid-80s and I went back to great figures like Van Dijk in teams. Not just any player.
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“There are three or four players that you feel like you can’t do without for a long period of time. Everton in 1986 lost Neville Southall to a broken ankle. Liverpool won the double in 1986, Everton were champions in 85.
“One of Liverpool’s best teams was 1988. The next preseason Alan Hansen, who was that team’s Virgil van Dijk, got injured in the preseason and did not play until the FA Cup semi-final in April. Arsenal won the league.
“Then I went back to Eric Cantona. It wasn’t an injury, but he missed half a season with the incident at Crystal Palace. Blackburn won the title.
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