Ben Foster predicts major Liverpool prediction after Sadio Mane exit

Ben Foster predicts Manchester City and Chelsea to finish above Liverpool in the Premier League next season

Former Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster has predicted Manchester City and Chelsea to be above Liverpool in the Premier League table come the end of next season.

The Reds finished second in the previous campaign, a point behind the Cityzens. The last day of the season saw many ups and downs, with the Sky Blues managing to get the win needed over Aston Villa.

Ben Foster, who played for fierce rivals Manchester United between 2005 and 2010, had predicted Liverpool to finish fourth last season. Speaking on The Cycling GK on YouTube (via Mirror), the 39-year-old was impressed with the Reds’ fight.

“I just thought the season before they’d give their all and I thought they’d die off last season – they didn’t die off last season they were up there all the way, live and kicking till the very last game of the season.”

The 2020/21 season was an exhausting one for both fans and players. We lost our best centre-backs during the campaign and relied on the brilliance of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams in the backline to secure a top four spot.

But with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip back to full fitness, we had one of the best defensive records in the PL in the previous campaign. Ibrahima Konate also added strength in depth in the centre-back position.

Foster believes the loss of Sadio Mane will have a big impact next season. Thus, the 39-year-old goalkeeper predicts the Reds to finish third.

Foster predicts Liverpool to finish third next season. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

“I think it’s understandable I put them fourth last season, this season I’m going to go for third. I think there’s going to be two better teams than Liverpool this year. I think losing Sadio Mane, I think they’re in a little bit of a transition period, I can’t see them trying to be up there and about winning the Premier League – I just can’t. I still think they’ll do decent.”

Last season wasn’t the first time Liverpool have experienced heartbreak by losing with only a points difference. In the 2018/19 season, we finished second with 97 points on the table. We came in the following season and won a league title after a 30-year gap.

Liverpool have the strength and resolve to fight even after suffering disappointment. We’ve been to three Champions League finals in the last five years, winning one against Tottenham Hotspur.

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The Reds cannot be discounted from the title race for next season because of what we’ve shown throughout Jurgen Klopp’s stint. We have the winning mentality. The Merseysiders have gotten back up in the past. Fans will hope next season brings us more laurels.