Robbie Fowler: I tried to win the Premier League title for 15 years - but this time Liverpool can do it
Anfield legend Robbie Fowler believes Liverpool can upset the odds to produce the most dramatic title win of all time.
The former England international is backing his old club to claw back Manchester United’s lead at the top of the table and end their 20-year wait to become champions.
And Fowler admits he will be overjoyed to see the club he served for almost 20 years lift the Premier League trophy and fulfil the one dream he never achieved.
Many critics suggest Liverpool now have no chance of catching United after their disastrous Champions League result against Chelsea in midweek, with the conventional thinking suggesting their confidence will be shattered.
But Fowler has always been of unconventional mind and he believes that losing in Europe could just be the nudge Liverpool need to win the title the Kop craves.
"I know people are saying it’s all over for my old team now and I even heard that the United manager was saying Liverpool are out of the title race because of the Chelsea result," Fowler said.
"But I disagree and I think in a strange way it can help them because they will be able to concentrate every single ounce of their energy and concentration on winning the league.
"Let’s face it, they need a miracle to win 3-0 at Chelsea and stay in Europe but if they can put the result behind them, then they might even be favourites to win the title.
"You can’t under-estimate how draining a Champions League campaign can be and if you don’t have that distraction, then you’re much fitter and fresher.
"If Liverpool are out of Europe they will play once a week in the league and will be able to play their best team every single game – which is a massive advantage.
"United could be involved in Europe, in an FA Cup semi and the title race, and already that is beginning to show in some of their performances.
"They’ll have a lot of games to cram in and they already look shattered. It’s hard to keep it all together in so many competitions, especially when you’re being challenged by rivals who are much fitter, fresher and have more focus."
Fowler has just flown to Australia to join up with his new club North Queensland Fury, where he began pre-season training. He has a two-year contract with the newly-formed A-League club and will start the season in August.
But he has kept an eye on events back home and admits he is desperate to see his old club win the title that eluded him during his years at Anfield.
"I know how much winning the title means to the Liverpool fans - I spent 15 years desperately trying to bring it to them," he said.
"My biggest regret is that I couldn’t win the league with Liverpool. I won every other trophy and even went to the Champions’ League final with them but the league was painful for us.
"We got close and should have won it in 1997 when we were in a great position, but then blew it at Easter.
"It would mean so much to the fans there and I really believe that Liverpool have a great chance of doing it now, after all these years.
"I know they could be four points behind with only seven games to go if United win their game in hand, but there is an awful lot in their favour. United are faltering lately and look really vulnerable. Playing European games and the FA Cup will put them under even more pressure and Liverpool could well have the advantage of just having six matches left after next week’s Champions’ League tie.
"If Liverpool have a weakness, it’s when they have to rotate, because they don’t have the quality in their squad that United have.
"But if they are only playing once a week they can play their best side and Torres and Gerrard can destroy any team at any time.
"I fancy Liverpool to win all their remaining league matches and I don’t think United will, so they could easily be Champions."
Fowler is settling into life in Australia and plans to fly out his wife Kerry and four children shortly.
And he admits the challenge of joining a new franchise in the A League is an exciting one.
"I don’t feel ready to hang up my boots just yet and the quality out here has impressed me," he said.
"There are a good set of lads here and it’s going to be exciting trying to get a newly-formed team off the ground."
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