Igor Biscan sums up Liverpool’s season in one word, makes Jude Bellingham comparison and says City players’ ‘lack of desire’ will cost them title

Igor Biscan spent five seasons with Liverpool and played a crucial role in their run to the 2005 Champions League final which they won with a sensational comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul.

In an exclusive interview with Ladbrokes: Fanzone, the former defender/midfielder, now Croatia Under-21 coach, discussed Jude Bellingham, Manchester City’s title hopes and Cody Gakpo but began with his assessment of Liverpool’s season.

Liverpool’s season can be summed up in one word

If I had to sum up Liverpool’s season so far in one word, it would be ‘inconsistent’. We’re all now hoping that Manchester City aren’t going to go on another of their crazy runs, and that means there’s still a chance Liverpool can close the gap a little over the next few months. But, of course, now there is also Arsenal who are playing extremely well, and getting results week after week. It just shows you how difficult this division is to dominate.

Regarding Liverpool, they just haven’t been able to string enough wins together yet. They’re yet to find that momentum, or create a winning atmosphere, or that belief that this squad is ready to challenge for the title.

Jurgen Klopp has had to deal with big injuries to key players, and the loss of Sadio Mane has hit the team hard because we’re now seeing – in his absence – just how important he was to the team. Some players are still trying to find their way in the Premier League and know their roles in the side.

I’ll never write this team off because I know the qualities they possess; I believe they’re more than capable of challenging for the Champions League spots at the moment.

Jude Bellingham reminds me of Steven Gerrard

If we’re talking about Jude Bellingham, there’s not really much more I can say about him now. I’ve seen him play in the World Cup, at the highest level, and the performances he has put in on a consistent level have been incredible – especially for his age.

He’s a top class, mature player already. He’s someone who every club would take in their starting XI, and that tells you all you need to know. He would fit perfectly into Liverpool’s midfield.

I think he’d give something different to Jurgen Klopp, because he’s got that creativity, but he also knows how to defend. He actually reminds me a little bit of Steven Gerrard and think he can be a leader for Liverpool. He possesses that ability to impose himself on every game, and I think that’s something Liverpool need.

Their threats have always come from out wide, with the likes of Mo Salah and Luis Diaz. But after a while, that becomes easier to play against, because you can spend all of your time in training preparing to stop them from exploiting their strongest areas of threat – whereas if you bring in Jude Bellingham, all of a sudden you have another threat coming from another area.

He’s a top player who everyone wants, but for me it’s an easy one. I’d love to see him at Liverpool.

City’s lack of desire will cost them the title…Newcastle look stronger

I don’t really pay too much attention to the points difference between the teams at the top of the table, especially at this stage of the season. I prefer to look at the way those sides are playing. And right now, quite simply, no team is better than Arsenal in that department. Everything is in place for them to be challenging for the title right through to the end of the season, and it’s a positive – I think – for the league as a whole, to see another side challenging for the title… especially if you’re an Arsenal fan, having gone so long without seeing your team go close.

What can you say about Mikel Arteta at the moment that hasn’t been said already, so many times over? He’s doing a magnificent job with so many young players, and players who maybe didn’t fulfil their potential at other clubs. They’re playing some really good football, especially going forward. Mikel hasn’t been afraid to rely on those youngsters and put his trust in them, and it’s paid off big time at the moment.

I think Arsenal will go all the way and win the league. Of course, you can’t write off Manchester City, but to me, it seems like some of their key players don’t look as fresh as they used to look. And they’ve stopped winning games as convincingly as we’ve been so used to seeing in recent years – that’s just a fact.

Is it the World Cup, is it something else, is it a lack of desire after years of winning everything? To be honest, I don’t know, but they don’t look as sharp as they used to look. They concede in almost every game which is never a good sign. So if I had to choose between those teams at the top, for me it’s Arsenal. In fact, there’s an argument to say that Newcastle look like a stronger team than Man City and Liverpool right now.

Cody Gakpo will be a breath of fresh air at Liverpool

I’ve watched Cody Gakpo for a few years now. As a coach of the Croatian Under-21 side, we played in a group with the Netherlands, so he was someone I had to scout and prepare my team to play against. He was already a stand-out player there and you could see his potential straightaway. Playing off either wing or through the middle, he’s a constant threat for defenders.

Off the back of the World Cup he’s just had, you would expect him to hit the ground running for Liverpool… but it’s not going to be easy. The team is not playing at their highest level yet, so it’s a tough environment for Gakpo to step into. But he should definitely act as a breath of fresh air for the fans and for the rest of the team. He’s somebody who is coming in full of desire to achieve something special, and usually that triggers everyone else to up their game. And then, when you look at the return of Luis Diaz, the two of them could have a huge impact for Liverpool this season.