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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Tom Cavilla

BBC pundit makes remarkable u-turn after Liverpool were written off by 20 predictions

BBC Sport pundits have delivered their Premier League predictions for the 2022/23 season, with Liverpool fancied for greater success in comparison to last campaign.

Jurgen Klopp's side were written off by the 20 individuals who cast their selections ahead of 2021/22, with not one person picking the Reds to claim top spot. Fourth place was the most common view, with nine pundits predicting Liverpool to only just secure a Champions League place. Seven pundits ranked the Reds third, while Danny Murphy, Mark Lawrenson and Rob Green opted for second place.

Most staggering of all was Jermaine Beckford's decision to place Liverpool outside of the top four altogether, having tipped Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Leicester City to complete the Champions League places. This, of course, did not end well as the Foxes ended in eighth position, some 40 points adrift of the Reds.

READ MORE: What 'emotional' Mikel Arteta told Arsenal team before losing 4-0 to Liverpool

READ MORE: 'Hand on heart' - Gary Neville makes blunt claim over Liverpool squad strength

On this occasion, the former Everton forward has had a major change of heart and believes Klopp's men will be the team to end the season as champions. Eight others have echoed this prediction, with Dion Dublin, Glenn Murray, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock, Jermaine Jenas, Chris Sutton, Clinton Morrison and Nedum Onuoha also expecting City to surrender the title.

Unlike last year, Liverpool have been included in everyone's top four picks but Pep Guardiola's side have just edged the favourites for first by 13 votes to nine. One of the nine pundits to back the Reds to come out on top, Jenas believes the team could once again be about to bounce back from final day disappointment in style.

"As good as Liverpool's season was last time, they suffered quite a lot of pain as well towards the end and that kind of stuff fires you up for the new season," said the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder. "We saw it happen after they just missed out to City in 2018-19 and they came out absolutely flying. This time, I think those memories of missing out on the title and losing the Champions League final will be clear in the mind of these players as well. That bit of hunger might be the thing that gets them over the line."

2022/23 BBC Pundit Predictions in full:





Rob Green Man City Man Utd Liverpool Tottenham
Micah Richards Man City Liverpool Tottenham Arsenal
Rachel Brown-Finnis Man City Liverpool Tottenham Arsenal
Martin Keown Man City Liverpool Tottenham Arsenal
Sue Smith Man City Liverpool Tottenham Arsenal
Jonathan Woodgate Man City Liverpool Tottenham Chelsea
Leon Osman Man City Liverpool Tottenham Chelsea
Pat Nevin Man City Liverpool Tottenham Chelsea
Ashley Williams Man City Liverpool Tottenham Chelsea
Michael Brown Man City Liverpool Tottenham Chelsea
Izzy Christiansen Man City Liverpool Chelsea Tottenham
Danny Murphy Man City Liverpool Chelsea Tottenham
Lindsay Johnson Man City Liverpool Chelsea Tottenham
Dion Dublin Liverpool Man City Chelsea Man Utd
Glenn Murray Liverpool Man City Tottenham Arsenal
Jermaine Beckford Liverpool Man City Tottenham Arsenal
Matt Upson Liverpool Man City Tottenham Arsenal
Stephen Warnock Liverpool Man City Tottenham Arsenal
Jermaine Jenas Liverpool Man City Tottenham Chelsea
Chris Sutton Liverpool Man City Tottenham Chelsea
Clinton Morrison Liverpool Man City Tottenham Chelsea
Nedum Onuoha Liverpool Man City Tottenham Man Utd

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