Newcastle United forward Callum Wilson has admitted that he was wrong to claim that Liverpool isn’t back in the top-four race.
Wilson recently poured scorn on the idea that the Reds are looking back to their old selves. As his team rival Liverpool for a Champions League spot, he dismissed praise of Jurgen Klopp’s side as being a little premature.
“You’re asking me are Liverpool back? What do you want me to say? They have won two games after the last couple of weeks and like I’m saying we technically let them win, it was a poor performance from our point of view,” the England man said at the end of February.
Well, wouldn’t you know it? After the Red’s destruction of Manchester United on Sunday, Wilson has taken to his Footballer’s Football Podcast to apologize for his hasty comments.
“I apologize for saying that Liverpool isn’t back. They’re back with a bang!” admitted the out-of-form 30-year-old. “Anything I say at the minute the universe shows the opposite.” You better believe it, buddy.
Liverpool not getting carried away.
Wilson’s original comments sounded a little bitter at the time. Having just been beaten by the Reds for the second time this season, you can perhaps forgive his churlishness.
But having said that, there was a grain of truth in it then. Liverpool had just beaten Newcastle to record their second 2-0 Premier League win in a row. With big defeats against Wolves and Brighton still fresh in the memory though, talk of a fightback couldn’t be verified.
Two weeks later, it very much can be. Although Liverpool has to be careful not to get carried away, they’ve now kept five clean sheets in a row and six in the last seven.
Having just obliterated United by an unfathomably big scoreline, the Reds have shown that they’re no longer the soft touch they’ve so often been this season.
For Wilson, that’s bad news. Newcastle’s form has been patchy of late but they’re still right in the top four hunts. Just a point behind Liverpool and with a game in hand, they shouldn’t be dismissed.
If they’re to get back on track they need Wilson to start finding the net, though. One goal in 12 games since the World Cup isn’t good enough from the £20m man. If he keeps up that kind of form, Liverpool won’t have to worry too much about the Toon.
