Roy Keane has once again returned to one of his familiar criticisms of Liverpool F.C., labeling them “bad champions” during Sunday evening’s football coverage. It’s a phrase the former Manchester United F.C. captain has used before, particularly during Liverpool’s troubled title defence in the 2020/21 season.
After Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester City F.C. last month, Keane revived the criticism, and he did so again following the Reds’ disappointing 1–1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur F.C..
The draw at Anfield was another missed opportunity for Liverpool to gain ground on their rivals in the race for Champions League qualification. Despite several competitors dropping points recently, Arne Slot’s side failed to take advantage, leaving them in a frustrating position in the league standings.
Keane did not hesitate to voice his dissatisfaction during his analysis on Sky Sports, insisting that Liverpool’s performances this season show a worrying decline compared with the standards expected of reigning champions.
According to Keane, Liverpool’s current situation reflects a major drop in quality and consistency. He pointed out that the club now sits 21 points behind league leaders Arsenal F.C., something he considers unacceptable for a team that lifted the Premier League trophy the previous season.
While Keane acknowledged that even dominant teams can experience slight dips in performance after winning a title, he argued that such a dramatic fall is difficult to justify.
He compared Liverpool’s decline to the recent struggles of Manchester City, who, despite experiencing a drop in form by their own high standards, still remain competitive near the top of the table. In Keane’s view, elite clubs are expected to remain in contention even during transitional periods, rather than slipping far behind the leading teams.
Falling more than 20 points behind the title race, he suggested, indicates deeper issues within the squad.
Keane also revisited a criticism he made toward the end of last season. At that time, he felt Liverpool began celebrating their Premier League triumph too early. He argued that the team appeared to be enjoying the success prematurely, with frequent celebrations and a relaxed atmosphere during the final weeks of the campaign.
While he acknowledged that winning the league is a huge achievement that deserves recognition, Keane insisted that players at a club of Liverpool’s stature should already be thinking about the challenge of defending the title.
In his opinion, maintaining hunger and focus after success is one of the most difficult tasks in football. Teams that consistently win major trophies must immediately shift their attention to the next season and prove that their success was not a one-off.
However, some observers feel Keane’s repeated use of the “bad champions” label has become repetitive. While Liverpool’s current campaign has clearly fallen below expectations, it is far from the worst title defence seen in the Premier League era.
For example, Chelsea finished 10th in the 2015/16 season after winning the title, ending the campaign 31 points behind champions Leicester City. Similarly, Leicester themselves dropped to 12th place the following year, finishing a staggering 49 points behind Chelsea.
Even Manchester United experienced a comparable decline in 2013/14 when they ended the season in seventh place, 22 points behind Manchester City. Compared with those examples, Liverpool’s current position—although disappointing—does not represent the most dramatic collapse in recent history.
Furthermore, many supporters believe the squad deserved to enjoy their success at the end of last season after a long and demanding campaign. In modern football, where players face relentless schedules and minimal rest, moments of celebration are rare and often well-earned.
Despite the criticism, Liverpool still have two months remaining in the season. That period provides an opportunity for Arne Slot’s team to improve their performances, finish strongly, and potentially prove their critics—especially Keane—wrong before the campaign comes to an end.
