Robbie Fowler On Trent, Klopp, Haaland And England's World Cup Chances

Midnite sat down with one of the Premier League greats, Robbie Fowler, who talked about the forthcoming World Cup.

The eighth-highest goalscorer in Premier League history shares his love for Erling Haaland’s simplicity as a striker and how he can win Manchester City their first-ever Champions League.

Being born and bred in Liverpool, the former Reds player talks about the recent Liverpool results and how he’d be amazed if Trent Alexander-Arnold was not in the squad.

Playing at the highest level of football, Fowler admits England players do feel the added pressure when they are playing for their country.

Read the full interview below here.

With the World Cup looming, what is your opinion on the notion that players may slow down on their club efforts to better prepare them for the trip to Qatar?

Yes, subliminally, of course players will do that. Probably more so this year because of where the World Cup was situated in terms of the time and in the midseason. It will maybe stop them from doing that little bit extra. But I don't want to take away from any of the players' attitudes.

Of course, they still want to go into Premier League games or whatever league they're in, try to win the games and do whatever they can, but I'm sure deep down, the focus is on the World Cup as well. We've seen players get injured. Now, the lads who aren't injured will think ‘well, I don't want to miss it as well’. So maybe they’re a little bit tense of going into tackles and challenges so yeah, there's definitely one eye on the World Cup and the squad selection.

Who are your favourites to win the World Cup?

Well, you put Brazil up there for the way they have been in the last couple of years. You've got Argentina who came over to Europe last year and dominated a few of the teams. They beat Italy 3-0 in the Finalissima didn't they? I think they're one of the strong ones.

In terms of European teams, I think France are favourites. I don't think England will be as bad as what some people make out. I know there's a lot of pressure on the squad but they should be getting through that group. Obviously the knockout football anyone can play anyone on any given day and beat them, certainly in international football. But if you have to pick one team, you're looking at the likes of Brazil and even Argentina. It could be Messi’s final swan song and they've got a relatively easy group, you'd expect them to go through. Again, it's the knockout stages, it could be anyone's.

England has USA and Wales, looking from an England fan’s perspective you'd be disappointed if they don’t get through as the leaders of the group. Don't get me wrong, they are difficult games and you look at the last Euros where England played Wales and even in the qualifiers, they sort of dominated them so you'd expect them to again.

It's not me being very, very disrespectful to Wales, I’m just being realistic, if England turn up and play the best they can then of course they should be winning those games and they should be topping that group, then we'll see where that takes them. But Wales will no doubt make it incredibly hard, they know what's in it for them. It's a case of luck. Let's make a little bit of history. Wales haven’t been to the World Cup, and playing an England side certainly gets everyone talking doesn’t it. So if anyone's going to be up for it, then it'll certainly be the Welsh.

Having represented England on numerous occasions, is there an added pressure to perform on the international stage?

I can obviously speak for myself and I know I never felt that because I was focused on myself. But with certain players' mentality, it can affect them. I focused on myself and I've seen for years loads of players who played differently for their club sides as opposed to the national sides and there is a little bit more expectancy. Players are aware of what's written about them.

Don't get me wrong. That's always been the case - certainly with England. Subliminally deep down, you are focused on having that good game so people can write in and say good things about you but it doesn't always work.

There is that added pressure playing for England, let's be honest, you're playing for your national team so it's going to be a little bit of pressure anyway. But when you're in a World Cup, in that tempo, it becomes so much more, so many more eyes are on you. You need to do well and that can create a little bit of anxiety in players. I have no doubt over the years that has definitely happened and it will continue to happen.

With the announcement of England’s World Cup squad pending, which names would you like to see on the team sheet?

Well, I mean, I'll be amazed if Trent is not in it! There's been a lot of talk that he may not make it because of his defensive lapses.

I'm hearing people saying that Gareth Southgate can't trust him because of his defensive liabilities if you like. Alexander-Arnold is a young player who’s won absolutely everything in the game. He's won one Premier League, but all the other trophies he’s won there, such as the Club World Cup, the Champions League, the FA Cup.

If a manager can't guarantee Trent Alexander-Arnold to be focused in on being the right-back for a knockout stage of a tournament, then it's absolutely ridiculous because the lad has won absolutely everything, including in knockout football. He’s a man who can be guaranteed to go out and perform. You need players like Trent because he's not an offensive player in terms of where he plays, but sometimes when you're in the knockout stages or competitions, they’re the types of players that you need who can open up little doors and a gap.

But you know what, you've got to go the other way as well because you do need to have a little bit of creativity that leads you to the likes of Callum Wilson who has done really well at Newcastle. But it might be a little bit too late for him. Obviously James Madison now is the big one everyone's talking about, but I'm a firm believer in players who are in form should go to international football games.

Following on from the poor form in the Nations League, what changes does Gareth Southgate need to make in order to ensure success at the World Cup?

Southgate needs to be a little bit more confident in the latter stage of the game. When games look and sort of feel a little bit dead and there's a little bit of a lull, then you do need these attacking creative players to come out of their shells and not be so defensive.

There are two ways to play football, you work hard when you've got the ball and you work hard when you haven't got the ball. Okay, you need to defend but you also need to attack and that's probably one of the things that has not been happening for a few years now. You look at the Euros last year, we started the game really well, England went 1-0 nil up and then all of a sudden it's sit back and invite pressure.

England should have put the pressure back on the other team and played the football that got them into those positions. Go a little bit more offensive, okay, you might lose games, but no one will have a go at you for having a go. That’s what people want to see. If you are sitting back defending a lead and then you suddenly concede goals, it would be a case of ‘I told you so’. Go out there and attack the game, I think that's what Gareth needs to do.

How do Liverpool return to dominant form?

Well Liverpool were a lot better and they were probably as more organised as they have been for a while. There were spells where they were under the cosh in the second half but they stood tall and have been the Liverpool we've seen in the past where they've dug out wins. They started off brilliantly,

I don't think anyone can fault the way Liverpool attack and score goals. But one of the problems they have had is conceding goals and they've done yesterday what I've been crying out for Liverpool to do for a long time now. Get into a lead and you don't need to go out and win the game all the time, you need to go out and just stay stable. You let the other teams focus on what they need to do and force them into mistakes. That's what Liverpool did, it wasn't a comfortable win by any means, but it was a great one because it's the first time since May that the team has won away from home in the Premier League.

So it's been a long time coming. Liverpool deserved it by the way they played, and the way they work for each other. The way they handle the game and they handle the pressure because as much as Conte gets a little bit of stick on him, he has a way of playing and certainly on the counter so it can hurt a lot of teams. Liverpool stood tall and defended really well which is what you need to do to win those games.

Is Jurgen Klopp still the man for the job, or have we seen the best of him?

Klopp is absolutely still the man for the job, I don't know how people can have these conversations. For me, he certainly is one of the best, if not the best manager in the world, and I think it's very premature that we're talking about if we've seen the best of him. Klopp knows that he's got a job to do.

Now in terms of Liverpool, does he have to build again? He knows he needs a few players, so he might put little building blocks in place. For me, he's absolutely the right man for Liverpool, it's never ever entered my head about anyone else coming in because as far as I'm concerned, Klopp is the man.

After being joint top scorer last season, what do you think has caused Heung-min Son’s dip in form?

Well, Heung-Min Son has probably been a victim of himself. He's obviously injured at the minute and on his day, he's one of the superstars in the Premier League. He's been a victim of his own success. When you are as good as he is, then teams and players when they're coming up against him seem to raise their game and rise to the occasion. I think that's probably what he's found out.

Obviously, the way Tottenham have played is slightly different as well. I know he was there last year with Conte but the formation and his tactics maybe heavily outweighed the offensive side of players as opposed to defensive. But yeah, he's been an absolute victim of his own success because he's been so good.

It can happen all the time, players will go in and out of form, look at Mo Salah for example. Salah has been scoring goals in the Champions League, but he's not hit the ground running in the Premier League with goals. The same question goes for Son, we're talking about wonderful players who when they come up against certain teams, these teams try a little bit harder against great players and that's unfortunately what you've got to deal with. There's no doubt that when Son comes back from his injury, he’ll be the player that we've all seen and witnessed.

Trent Alexander Arnold has been highly criticised for his defensive faults as of late. Are they a hindrance to Liverpool's progression?

I'm a firm believer in Trent, he's an absolute world-class player, there's no denying it. Okay, he might have a lapse of concentration now and again with some poor luck. One player's form does not dictate how the team plays. Football is a team game, Jurgen is absolutely behind Trent, he plays him all the time in all the big games whether it's the Champions League, Premier League, all the FA cups, you can count on Trent. You can count on him to go out there and give it his very best, okay there’s something that might happen that will give people a conversation to Liverpool’s defence, but look at the positives.

What we do in this country is look at the negatives all the time. Liverpool got to the Champions League finals because of players like Trent performing the way they do. He has not suddenly become a bad defender, Liverpool as a team are not playing as well as we've seen them. There are a few little issues which are getting highlighted now but Trent is world-class let's not deny that.

Mo Salah’s brace means that he has surpassed you as Liverpool's top scorer against Spurs. Is there anyone else you wanted to pass the baton to?

Records are there to be broken. The good thing about that is I really am happy. If Mo Salah is scoring goals, it means Liverpool are winning games and Liverpool are successful. I'm a Liverpool fan and begrudgingly I don't like records being taken off me but it's only a small amount of time before he beats my most goals in the Premier League for Liverpool as well. It'll be a sad day for me, but he's not a bad player so when records are there, it's nice to have great players beating them.

Liverpool prepare for the defence of their Carabao Cup against Derby next, should they focus their efforts on this trophy again?

You've got to remember that Liverpool haven't got the squad that they had last year. When you look at the form and the run that they had last year, the squad was bigger. Jurgen Klopp's priorities again will be the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League. The Carabao Cup is unfortunately probably last on their list.

I'm a player that had a great record in that competition in terms of goals so I love it. What it can do for teams, in terms of building confidence and momentum, is frightening. Unfortunately, I don't see a strong Liverpool team going out there and doing that because they don’t have the squad to do that now. But now young lads will come in and hopefully benefit from appearances and playing for Liverpool, playing at Anfield and wearing that red shirt.

With a lot of young prospects heading to the World Cup, what are your opinions on Brenden Aaronson?

Brenden Aaronson is an exciting player. You look at the manager who's brought him in and who has worked with him before, and he likes him. When I first saw Aaronson, I wasn't sure if he could play in the Premier League but he's proven that he's been a success. He's always on the front foot, he's an exciting player.

If Leeds wants to stay in the Premier League they need to get the likes of Brenden and Jack Harrison playing the way they can and scoring goals because that's what they can do and what they need to do. Brenden needs to play well, he's refreshing, but you need him to have that consistency along with a few of the players to keep them in that division and winning games. It's amazing what a few wins can do.

Does Gary O’Neil have a hard task ahead of him in keeping Bournemouth out of relegation?

I think Gary O'Neil does have a hard task, keeping Bournemouth out of relegation. There are a few clubs in the doldrums and Gary has come in and you just can't argue with his record and the way he's started. Bournemouth aren't one of the fancier teams, you've got to go out there and earn the right to get results and win games. He's started that, but the players haven't reacted just because it's a new manager and that new-manager bounce. It's a consistency issue down with the clubs in the bottom half of the Premier League and that's what Gary and Bournemouth have got to find.

Being a manager myself, when results do go against you and they're very adverse, you have to go out there and work a little bit harder and more on a training pitch. I have no doubt, with the staff around them and certainly the people at the club will be doing everything they can to try to keep the results positive but it's a tall ask. I think everyone knows that, Gary knows that but I think he's up for it.

In light of Haaland’s return after two missed games in the Premier League, has he missed a step?

Absolutely not, Haaland hasn't missed a step. That's the beauty of Manchester City. I think the fact that they've got so many good players coming in, and Haaland is a guaranteed starter but Man City can use him when they want. He's that good of a player, he can come in when he wants to. He's had a bit of an ache and a bit of a niggle but he's come in straight away. He played 20-25 minutes and ended up scoring the winning goal.

Man City are just a different breed at the minute. They played with ten men for over an hour of the game and still dominated the opposition. Then add Haaland coming on, who ends up winning the game. The boy has got goals in him, whether he plays 90 minutes or whether he plays five minutes, you'll always know he'll get a chance, he's just that type of player.

Is there anyone Haaland reminds you of from your days playing?

I don't know if Haaland reminds me of anyone to be honest. What I love about him is the simplicity of how he makes a number nine and how a number nine should be. In the modern game, we see nines or tens who want to get involved in the game a little more probably too much.

I always think as a striker, sometimes it's probably better to stay away from the game. Sometimes you get into positions of other players who want to do their job but Haaland doesn't do that. He gets it and he gives it, he has that incredible desire to get into the box and score tap-ins. I mean, that is worth everything for a team, you know that whoever has got the ball in certain positions, you know that you're going to put the ball into a box and you know he's going to be there and that is brilliant for young kids to see that.

It's not all about going and dictating play, sometimes you need someone to be that focal point and be that man to stick crosses into the box in and probably 99 times out of 100, Erling Haaland will be in the box and I love that about him. I love the directness and love the drive and attitude he has to get in the box and it's very rare that we've seen that, particularly in the last few years.

City have been in a few hard fought victories this early in the season, are they starting to show cracks?

What we see at Man City is a great team, a great manager, they've got a great squad and obviously when you play against good teams, they raise their game playing against them but they certainly have the players and the confidence to beat anyone. They'll be huge favourites to win the Premier League, as much as Arsenal have started off brilliantly, City are firm favourites.

They'll be judged on the Champions League as well though, in terms of cracks, there won't be any in the Premier League but in terms of the knockout stages, I'm sure City will be very very good, and this is probably one of the reasons Haaland has come to Manchester City.

They score 90-odd goals, getting 90-odd points every season in the Premier League, and his goals won't be much of a difference in terms of that, but he'll be able to change a 1-1 into a 2-1 in the Champions League. As long as he's fit and fighting in the Champions League, I think even the Man City fans would not be begrudged if he was to not play any Premier League games. I think everyone would be happy, the only man who wouldn't be happy is Haaland as he’d want to play and score every game.

Despite all his success, Does Pep still have a lot to prove?

The question is the Champions League, for me, he doesn't have to prove anything to no one. In terms of what he's done and what he's achieved over the years, the Champions League has alluded to him for a long time. When you look at the clubs, the Barcelonas, the Bayern Munichs, even the Man Citys that have been incredible and at the peak of their powers, and maybe they've struggled to get to that Champions League victory.

Pep's got an unbelievable way about him and honestly, I do love what he stands for, he's an absolute winner and people will question that. People will question his performances as of late in the Champions League, I wouldn't question it though, I think he's first class.

Despite the setback, how impressed have you been with Fulham in the top flight?

Fulham have been good. I do half expect when a team comes up to the Premier League, they have that newbie look, they've come up and not too many teams know how to play against them. Fair play, Marco Silva has a way of playing them, which is effectively on the front foot and sometimes you've got to do that. Sometimes you sit back and defend and you're attracting pressure all the time and you leave yourself open to getting goals conceded left, right, and centre but he's not really done that, he's wanted to play on the front foot from day one and they've got a few goals.

There'll be times when the results go against them but they look as if they can score goals and certainly Aleksandar Mitrović, who has scored a lot of goals, a lot of people would question him in terms of if he can do it in the Premier League as he's been here before and he's not at the heights he thinks he is but he's scored goals this year. He's definitely a pivotal player in terms of how Fulham perform. If he scores goals, it makes the defenders' lives a little bit easier, they can go into games with confidence and they seem like a confident group down there at the minute.